Tabilo Triumphs Over Musetti to Claim Chengdu Championship
Chilean sensation makes history as the second qualifier to snag an ATP Tour title this year, alongside Brooksby.
Date: September 23, 2025
Chengdu Open
Alejandro Tabilo celebrates his third ATP Tour title at the Chengdu Open!
By Sam Jacot
In a thrilling showdown at the Chengdu Open, Alejandro Tabilo showcased his resilience by saving two championship points, overcoming top-seeded Lorenzo Musetti with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5) to secure his third ATP Tour title and his first of the season.
Facing dire moments throughout the match, the Chilean qualifier held strong, saving two championship points while serving at 5-6 in the final set, and even came back from a 1/4 deficit in the deciding-set tiebreaker, marking his place as one of the lowest-ranked ATP Tour champions this year.
“I had to keep my focus mentally and physically,” Tabilo shared in the post-match interview. “Making those first serves during critical moments felt amazing. The entire team put in so much effort. It’s been quite a journey over the last two weeks, and I couldn’t be happier!”
Chile’s King of Chengdu 👑🇨🇱 @ChengduOpen | #ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/aSIA5o2Pow
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 23, 2025
Tabilo’s journey this year has been anything but easy; he began with a disappointing six-match losing streak and was sidelined for two months due to a wrist injury during the European clay season. Entering Chengdu with a 5-13 record, he found his rhythm and rose to the occasion at this ATP 250 event.
In a fiercely contested final, Tabilo struck eight fewer winners (29-37) and recorded 21 more unforced errors (44-23) than Musetti. However, he delivered crucial shots when it mattered most, sealing the victory after a nail-biting two hours and 37 minutes in their inaugural Lexus ATP Head2Head clash.
Musetti, chasing his first tour-level title since Naples in 2022, fell short of converting his chances in the final set. Tabilo saved the first match point with a brilliant forehand winner and the second when Musetti sent a rally ball long. He clinched victory on his first match point, leading his team and girlfriend to rush the court in celebration after achieving his third Top 10 win.
Tabilo is now a three-time tour-level champion, having previously won in Auckland and Mallorca last season. He has surged up 40 spots to No. 72 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, making a return to the Top 100 for the first time since June.
Musetti departs Chengdu ranked seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The Italian is eyeing a debut at the Nitto ATP Finals on home soil this November, hoping to join fellow compatriot Jannik Sinner, who has already secured his spot for the prestigious year-end event.
