NEW YORK — Alejandro Tabilo has a date this Saturday with an inevitable sense of revenge: a year ago, the imposing stage of Arthur Ashe Stadium and more than 20,000 spectators overwhelmed him in a bitter defeat against Alexander Zverev. Now, with two wins under his belt, the backing of his mental conditioning, and the experience of having played in the world’s largest tennis stadium, the outlook is vastly different.
“I want revenge for last year,” Tabilo said in an interview with CLAY in New York after defeating Alexei Popyrin 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in the second round of the US Open.
“It helps that this time it isn’t in the first round, because in the opening rounds I’m always a bit more nervous and tighter. Now, with two matches under my belt, I think I can play a bit looser, knowing I have nothing to lose, and just go all out. I already feel more prepared regarding the stadium and the opponent,” he said during a conversation also broadcast by CNN Chile.
Interview with Alejandro Tabilo
– You had a very strong performance in the second round against Alexei Popyrin. You started a set down, but then played spectacularly, especially in the key moments—winning two consecutive tiebreaks, which made the rest of the match a bit easier.
– It was very tough. He came out serving really well and kept me on defense. I didn’t serve that well at the beginning; I was a bit passive. In the second set, I came out much more convinced, serving better. I think I put a bit more pressure on his serve, and eventually he started giving me a few more chances. I played more aggressively, closing points at the net. In the tiebreaks, I felt very confident, stepped up with clarity, and played both of them really well. And also, at the end, the physical side. I felt very, very good, with a lot of energy, and he dropped a bit. It was amazing to see that I’m able to compete well physically.
– Tennis is deeply mental. Does playing well in the big moments come down to the emphasis you’ve placed on your psychological work?
– Yes, we’ve been working a lot on the mental side with Pablo Pécora, who has helped me immensely throughout this time. Also, daring to come to the net more—something we’ve worked on a lot with Juampi (Juan Pablo Gándara) and Germán (Gaich)—being a bit more aggressive, trusting my game, and trusting that I volley very well. The net game is something I need to add more to my tennis. I can play solid from the back, but I also have to spot those opportunities and move forward.
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– You’ll have a rest day before the third round. The next step is against Alexander Zverev, world No. 2 and Roland Garros champion. How do you see it?
– It’s going to be a tough match against the top seed, but it’s always great to have the opportunity to play against these types of players. I want revenge for last year [the Chilean lost in the first round of the 2025 US Open to the German in straight sets]. It helps that this time it isn’t in the first round, because in the opening rounds I’m always a bit more nervous and tighter. Now, with two matches under my belt, I think I can play a bit looser, knowing I have nothing to lose, and just go all out. I already feel more prepared regarding the stadium and the opponent.
– What does it feel like to walk onto a court as massive as Arthur Ashe? There are more than 23,000 people watching. This time, against Zverev again… What goes through your mind in these big moments?
– Last year, the sheer size of the stadium caught me by surprise. All the people there, talking—with a stadium that big, you can’t quiet down 20,000 people. While playing, you always hear the noise. At first, I couldn’t even hear my own shots. It was very tough. It took me a while to get used to the court, the feeling, everything. I feel like now I can be a bit more prepared, knowing what to expect, and try to block everything out and just focus on my game. I also noticed that this year they placed the player box much closer to the court, which helps because in 2025 I couldn’t hear them either. I’ll try to go out there and give it everything.
– Looking at your side of the draw up to the semifinals, Zverev is the only player who has reached a Grand Slam semifinal before. A lot of players have a golden opportunity. Does that give you special motivation?
– Yeah, I think after Roland Garros everyone was left with that belief that it’s possible to get there. There was a Cobolli-Arnaldi semi, two incredible players who had never been in that position before. It gives you the motivation and the hope that you can be there too. Obviously it depends on the draw, it depends on the results, and you get excited, but as we say with the team: we have to take it step by step and play every match like it’s our last.
– Grand Slams are so different from one another. A little over a month ago, we were in the quiet of Wimbledon… You mentioned how important it is for you to communicate with your coaches during matches. We saw a lot of that interaction in the second round.
– For me, it’s fundamental. Today I felt like I was enjoying myself, relaxed; I even laughed a couple of times with the team. Juampi knows very well when I’m a bit nervous or when I have more energy. He reads me really well and helps me get out of those tough spots. He gives me advice, tells me where to serve, what to do, knowing that I’m capable of doing those things. That also gives me confidence in my game, knowing I can execute what he tells me, and step out much more confident and aggressive with what I want to do.
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– You’re focused on the US Open, obviously, but there’s always an eye on the Davis Cup. Yesterday, Spain’s No. 1, Rafael Jódar, had a tough outing—losing in straight sets and winning just four games. Did you catch any of it?
– I didn’t watch any of it, I was just following the live score. You also have to give credit to the opponent. Bu (Yunchaokete) is a tremendous player, very aggressive, especially on hard courts—he plays great and gives you zero time. I couldn’t watch the match, so I don’t know. But Jódar comes from playing a lot of matches; he must be physically drained. It’s normal. And honestly, with the year he’s had, everything he’s done is incredible.
– You’ll have time to rest and prepare for that tie better.
– Hopefully he’s still thinking about the match he played here and doesn’t show up in top form (laughs). But yeah, he’ll be fully ready for Davis Cup, so we’ll see how those matches go.
– To wrap up: I love tattoos. You have a lion, one for your family… It’s been a while since you’ve gone under the needle.
– I wanted to do it every year, I always say I want to add one during the off-season. I also wanted to get the Olympic rings, of course. I have a few I’d like to get done, but I just need time for those things.
