Novak Djokovic beats Alejandro Tabilo for first time on Greece debut

Novak Djokovic made a strong comeback on the tour as he bested Alejandro Tabilo for the first time while making his Greece debut. The Serbian registered a 7-6(3), 6-1 win against the Chilean on Tuesday at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship in Athens after losing the first two matches against him.

Had Tabilo managed a win, he would have joined legendary Roger Federer as the second man to win the first three matches against Djokovic.

With this win, Djokovic reached his 225th tour-level quarterfinal. Djokovic said he loves being in Greece after shifting with his family.

“It feels really at home, playing in Athens,” said Djokovic, who recently relocated to Athens. “A few months ago when I came here with my family, I was very excited because I have always loved Greece. Serbians love Greece, for sure. Historically, culturally, and religiously, we have a lot of things connecting us.

“Athens is in my heart, no question about it.”

Djokovic admitted he was under the cosh before the match against Tabilo as he had never managed to beat him, but said he drew the energy from the crowd and it worked wonders for him.

“Playing against Tabilo, whom I had never won against. We played two times on clay court, this year and last year, and he won both of these matches. I was more under tension before the match thanin  some other matches, and I really tried to draw the energy from the crowd,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic will next take Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the quarter-finals in Athens on Thursday.