Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 in Athens by defeating Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (7-5 in tiebreak) and 6-1, this Tuesday (4), on the central court of the OAKA Basketball Arena, in Greece. The Serbian, number 5 in the world, broke a streak of two consecutive defeats against his opponent and is preparing for the ATP Finals in Turin. The match lasted around 1 hour and 30 minutes, with the 38-year-old recording 13 aces and converting two of five break points.
The clash took place in the third round of the schedule, with the public present watching Djokovic’s return to the circuit after the semifinal in Shanghai. Tabilo, 82nd in the ranking, arrived at the duel with an unbeaten record, but could not resist the pace set by the number 1 seed after the balanced first set.
Djokovic now has 36 wins this season, with a 76% success rate on indoor hard courts. The tournament in Athens, organized in partnership with the Serb’s family, distributes crucial points for the end of the year.
- Main game statistics:
- Aces: Djokovic 13, Tabilo 4
- Double faults: Djokovic 0, Tabilo 2
- Points on first serve: Djokovic 92%, Tabilo 76%
- Break points converted: Djokovic 2/5, Tabilo 0/1
Novak doing Novak things 💥@Djokovic holds off Tabilo in a tight first set, 7-6(3)!#HellenicChampionship pic.twitter.com/Hq3LUSshaD
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 4, 2025
First set performance
The opening set ended in a tiebreak, with Djokovic raising the level after a cautious start. Tabilo pressed well on his second serve, but made mistakes at decisive moments.
Djokovic converted 60% of the points on his first serve and forced mistakes from the Chilean in the tiebreak. The fast court favored the Serbian, who adjusted his positioning on the return.
Djokovic’s tactical evolution
After the tiebreak, Djokovic accelerated the pace and broke Tabilo’s serve in the third game of the second set. The Serbian varied slices and topspins to neutralize his opponent’s left forehand.
Tabilo, who won the two previous matches on clay, saw his success rate drop to 59% on his second serve. Djokovic maintained 57 points gained in the return, consolidating the advantage.
The game exposed Djokovic’s adaptation to the indoor surface, with 11 service games won without concessions. Tabilo recorded 73 points on serve, but only 26 receiving.
Direct history changed
Djokovic reversed the 0-2 score in a direct confrontation with Tabilo, who had triumphed inRome (2024) by 6-2 and 6-3, and in Monte Carlo (2025) by 6-3 and 6-4. Both matches took place on clay, a surface where the Chilean has a 68% success rate in saved breaks.
The Serbian, with 90% of wins on hard courts this season, used his experience to dictate the pace. Tabilo, recent champion in Chengdu, has 27 wins in 2025, but fights indoor hard with just 1-2.
Preparing for the ATP Finals
Djokovic confirmed his presence at the ATP Finals, from November 9th to 16th in Turin, where he is looking for his seventh title. The Serb has reached semi-finals in the four Grand Slams of 2025 and a title in Geneva, his 100th on the circuit.
The victory in Athens adds 100 points to the ranking, keeping it ahead of rivals like Alcaraz. The Greek tournament serves as a warm-up, with Djokovic aiming for his 101st trophy.
- Next challenges in Athens:
- Quarter-finals: against Wawrinka winner x another qualifier
- Semifinals: possible duel with Borges or Hanfmann
- Final: until November 8th, with a prize of 100 thousand euros for the champion
Overall season statistics
Djokovic records 35-11 on the year, with 21 wins on hard courts and a 75% success rate on the surface. He leads in consecutive points won, with 44 in the match against Tabilo.
Tabilo, at 27-22, stands out in Challengers, but needs consistency in ATPs. Your title in Chengdu included a comeback against Musetti by 6-3, 2-6 and 7-6.
The Serbian avoids recent injuries, prioritizing recovery after Shanghai, where he fell to Vacherot in the semifinals. Athens marks its first indoor ATP 250 since 2015.
The match reinforces Djokovic’s dominance in preparatory events, with 113 consecutive games won in past sequences. Tabilo, in turn, is looking for the top 70 at the end of the year.
