Tabilo reveals his next ranking goal: “It would be extraordinary for me” | ATP Tour

US Open

Tabilo reveals his next ranking goal: “The Top 15 would be extraordinary”

The Chilean debuts on Tuesday at the US Open against David Goffin

August 25, 2024

Alejandro Tabilo’s life has changed so quickly in 2024 that 12 months ago he was outside the Top 100 and now he is ready for his first time as a seed at the US Open, where he will make his debut on Tuesday against Belgian David Goffin. But despite his incredible rise, the Chilean looks even higher in the PIF ATP Rankings.

“This year has been incredible. I never could have dreamed that I would be in the Top 20 this year,” Tabilo told ATPTour.com. “But a next ranking goal for the rest of the year, with very few tournaments left, could be the Top 15, which would be extraordinary for me, and aiming for the top ten.”

The 27-year-old left-hander has been able to rise like few others to the elite of the ATP Tour in 2024 thanks to a season that has included his first two titles on the circuit, on the hard courts of Auckland in January, and mid-year on the grass of Mallorca. In addition, of the 53 ATP triumphs he has in his career, 28 have been achieved this season, in which he was able to sign his first victory against the then No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Rome.

If he wants to continue climbing the rankings and become the sixth Chilean in history to break into the Top 15 (after Ríos, González, Massú, Gildemeister and Fillol), Tabilo has a golden opportunity at the US Open, as he will not be defending points this fortnight.

Tabilo, however, prefers smaller goals for this fortnight. “One year we won a match here, hopefully I can do better this time. I am very confident and very calm. I am taking the match against Goffin very calmly,” says the world No. 22.

His formula for achieving a new dream in the rankings is based on hard work and consists of evolving every day. And as a result of this intention, he began working with coach Horacio Matta in the middle of the year, and with the latter he has not stopped looking for aspects of his game with room for improvement.

“We have been working on the serve a bit and fixing some details like the forehand. Horacio is helping me a lot. He has been giving me a lot of good things,” explains Tabilo. “Now I am a much more decisive or determined player, who knows what he wants to do with his game, what he wants to do.”

“And with all the work we’ve done, I’ve been more effective and winning more points. Those little details we’ve improved have made me more aggressive. They make me play with more room and help me hit more.”

And, as a result of that union with Matta, Tabilo has already won a title in Mallorca (two weeks after they started working together), and has reached unprecedented rounds in his career in several tournaments such as Wimbledon (third round) and Montreal (round of 16). Now everything seems to be in his favour for him to also achieve it this fortnight in New York.

“There is a lot of confidence in the team. We are calm.”