AUCKLAND: Alejandro Tabilo defeated Taro Daniel of Japan in the Auckland Classic final on Saturday to earn his maiden ATP Tour championship, 6-2 7-5. Tabilo will be entering the Australian Open on a high note.
Following a 2-2 tie in the initial set, the 26-year-old Chilean, who is now ranked 82 in the world, is predicted to break into the top 50 following his victory.
He faced a more difficult challenge in the second set, but ultimately prevailed to become the first Chilean player to win a title at the hardcourt tour level since Fernando Gonzalez in Beijing in 2007.
Tabilo’s next encounter is an Australian Open first-round match on Monday against American Aleksandar Kovacevic.
