Maiden ATP title for Tabilo
Japanese-American Daniel also had an outstanding week as he made his way to a final between unseeded players.
Alejandro Tabilo poses with the trophy
AUCKLAND: Alejandro Tabilo capped the most extraordinary week of his career Saturday when he emerged from qualifying to beat Taro Daniel 6-3, 7-5 in the final of ATP Auckland Classic, claiming the first title of his career.
Tabilo came through two rounds of qualifying and three rounds of the main draw. He avoided second-seeded Cameron Norrie in the quarterfinals when Norrie withdrew with a wrist injury and beat sixth seeded Arthur Fils in the semifinals to reach his second ATP Tour final.
The 26-year-old then dominated the final, serving 10 aces and keeping Daniel constantly on the defensive with his powerful left-hand forehands. “It honestly feels surreal,” Tabilo said. “I feel happy and very emotional.
Japanese-American Daniel also had an outstanding week as he made his way to a final between unseeded players.
Daniel had only bad memories of the Auckland tournament after being beaten last year in the final round of qualifying in a tournament plagued by rain. His reluctant decision to return this year paid off when he beat top-seeded Ben Shelton in the semifinals to reach his second career final after Istanbul in 2018.
But on Saturday he came up against a player on a roll, hardened by his many matches in Auckland. He fought hard to keep in the match but Tabilo always was on top, breaking Daniel’s serve in the sixth and eighth games of the first set and the 12th game of the second.
It ended a tough run for the 82nd-ranked Tabilo. Both players now move on to the Australian Open where Daniel will play Chris Eubanks and Tabilo will play Aleksandar.