Tabilo ends Fonseca’s run in Bucharest

Alejando Tabilo continued his career-best season Friday by advancing to his third semi-final of the year at the Tiriac Open.

The fourth seed spoiled 17-year-old Joao Fonseca’s quest to become the sixth youngest semi-finalist in the ATP Tour era (since 1990) with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory.

Despite failing to serve the match out at 5-2 in the third set, the 26-year-old Tabilo quickly rebounded and held to love on his second attempt to close the two-hour, 18-minute quarter-final.

“It was a very difficult match. The conditions were tough, very slow today. I just tried to stay there mentally. He was playing well. He’s unreal,” Tabilo said. “If there was an opportunity, I just had to stay calm and try to take it.”

Tabilo is now No. 38 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, one spot ahead of his career-high which he reached last month. The Chilean opened 2024 with his first ATP Tour crown in Auckland and in February, he was a finalist on home soil in Santiago.

Tabilo will next face Marton Fucsovics, who ousted Corentin Moutet 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach his first tour-level semi-final on clay since his 2019 title run in Geneva.

#NextGenATP Brazilian Fonseca defeated Lorenzo Sonego and Radu Albot earlier this week to reach his second tour-level quarter-final. Earlier this year, the 17-year-old reached the last eight on home soil in Rio de Janeiro. Fonseca leaves Bucharest sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.

In the top half of the draw, qualifier Gregoire Barrere advanced to the last four after defeating Pedro Martinez 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4. The Frenchman awaits top seed Francisco Cerundolo or Mariano Navone. The pair's match was suspended due to bad light with the scores locked at 7-5, 4-6.