Tabilo Saves Two Championship Points to Win Chengdu Title in Thriller

By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Photo credit: Chengdu Open Facebook

Down and nearly out, Alejandro Tabilo rose up to score one of his biggest career wins.

Qualifier Tabilo fought off two championship points edging top-seeded Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5) to claim his third ATP Tour title and first of the season.

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World No. 112 Tabilo denied championship points serving at 5-6 in the third set stamping a gritty hold.

Musetti opened a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker and was three points from the title when Tabilo turned it on again.

The Chilean No. 1 reeled off six of the final seven points collapsing to the court in joy becoming the second qualifier to take an ATP title and second-lowest ranked ATP Tour champion in 2025.

“I just had to stay there mentally and physically,” Tabilo said. “I was so happy to make those first serves on match points. It was an incredible effort from the team also. It has been a long two weeks and I am just so happy.”

The left-hander’s entire team swarmed the court embracing him after an emotional victory.

The victory vaults Tabilo 40 spots to No. 72 in the rankings capping a week that saw him score seven match points, including two in qualifying. Tabilo knocked off fourth-seeded Brandon Nakashima and top-seeded Musetti en route to his first title since he won the Mallorca championship in June, 2024.

Musetti who seemed to be in charge of the tiebreaker, fell to 2-5 lifetime in ATP finals.

Richard Pagliaro is Tennis Now Managing Editor. He is a graduate of New York University and has covered pro tennis for more than 35 years. Richard was tennis columnist for Gannett Newspapers in NY, served as Managing Editor for TennisWeek.com and worked as a writer/editor for Tennis.com. He has been TennisNow.com managing editor since 2010.

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