Zverev ends Tabilo's dream run to reach Italian Open final

Alexander Zverev fought back from the brink to reach the Italian Open final on Friday, overcoming Alejandro Tabilo by a 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 scoreline in the last four.

Zverev was punished for a slow start as Tabilo took the opener within 32 minutes, but the German fought back in a one-hour, 15-minute slog of a second set.

The 2017 Italian Open champion put his foot down from 3-3 in the second-set tie-break, with Tabilo potentially feeling the effects of a fine run that included a last-32 upset of Novak Djokovic.

Zverev upped the intensity in the final set and won a huge 94 per cent of points behind his first serve as his opponent wilted, the third seed reaching the Rome final for a third time.

FINAL BOUND @AlexZverev comes back from a set down to end Tabilo's run in Rome and reach his 11th ATP Masters 1000 final!@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/3MbFgyZC4f
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 17, 2024

Data Debrief: Zverev draws level with Becker

Zverev will now face either Nicolas Jarry or Tommy Paul in Sunday's final, which will be his 11th at ATP 1000 Masters level.

That tally pulls him level with Boris Becker for most such finals by a German player since the format's 1990 introduction.