Novak Djokovic breaks Tabilo curse, reaches 225th career quarterfinal in Athens

They say third time’s the charm, and under the lights in the Greek capital, Novak Djokovic proved just that. For the first time in his career, the world No. 1 cracked the code of Alejandro Tabilo, sweeping past the Chilean 7-6(3), 6-1 in his opening match at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship.

It wasn’t just a routine win. It was personal.

Twice Djokovic had faced Tabilo on clay and twice he walked away stunned, unable to find answers. But this time, in front of an electric crowd in his adopted home of Athens, the Serbian maestro flipped the script.

“Honestly, I felt more tension coming into this one than I do for most matches,” Djokovic admitted in his post-match interview. “It’s not easy playing someone who’s beaten you twice, and in straight sets.”

What unfolded on the indoor hard court was a masterclass in poise and precision. The first set was a nerve-racking grind, stretching to 68 minutes without a single break of serve.

Djokovic earned double break point in the opening game, but Tabilo held firm. Still, when the tie-break arrived, it was Djokovic who seized the moment, surging to a 3-0 lead before closing it out 7-3.

The second set was a different story.

After trading early holds, Djokovic found his rhythm and reeled off five straight games, hammering 13 aces and zero double faults by the finish line. With 27 winners against 21 unforced errors, the stat sheet mirrored the dominance fans witnessed on court.

“It feels like home playing in Athens,” he told the crowd with a grin. “We Serbians have a deep connection with Greece—culturally, religiously, historically. The people here have embraced me not just as a tennis player, but as a person. That means more to me than anything.”

Indeed, the atmosphere inside the stadium carried the unmistakable hum of home support. Just months after moving his base to the Greek capital, Djokovic delivered a performance worthy of the welcome he’s received.

But beyond the symbolic revenge over Tabilo and the emotional homecoming, this victory carried historical weight because it marked Djokovic’s 225th career tour-level quarterfinal. Only Jimmy Connors (276), Roger Federer (245), and Rafael Nadal (226) have reached more in the Open Era.

And while the milestone is impressive, Djokovic’s bigger numbers tell a more elite story. His 64 Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances remain an all-time record.

Up next, the top seed will face Portugal’s Nuno Borges, who staged a gritty comeback to defeat American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri. The upcoming clash will be the first meeting between Djokovic and the No. 6 seed, adding another layer of intrigue to what’s shaping up to be a compelling final stretch of the season.