Athens
\n Djokovic stops Tabilo streak on Greece debut<\/p>\n
Former World No. 1 has reached 225 QFs in 25 different countries<\/p>\n
November 04, 2025<\/p>\n
Andrew Eichenholz\/ATP Tour<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic earns his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win over Alejandro Tabilo on Tuesday in Athens (1-2).
\n By Jerome Coombe<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic<\/a> was tested by a familiar foe in his first professional appearance in Greece on Tuesday at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship<\/a> in Athens.<\/p>\n The top seed, however, found his range to thrill the crowd and secure a 7-6(3), 6-1 victory over Alejandro Tabilo<\/a> \u2014 denying the Chilean a chance to join Roger Federer<\/a> as the only men to begin their Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Djokovic with three straight wins.<\/p>\n 225 and counting \ud83c\udfbb<\/p>\n The 24-time major champ powers past Tabilo 7-6(3) 6-1 to secure his 225th tour-level quarter-final! \ud83d\udc4f#HellenicChampionship<\/a> | @DjokerNole<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/L13T676PC3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) November 4, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n “It feels really at home, playing in Athens,\u201d said Djokovic, who recently relocated to Athens. \u201cA 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAthens is in my heart, no question about it.\u201d<\/p>\n In front of a lively atmosphere at the indoor hard-court ATP 250 event, Djokovic impressed with his patience and precision in the opening-set tie-break before settling into rhythm in the second. The 38-year-old Serbian is into his 225th tour-level quarter-final in 25 different countries.<\/p>\n Having fallen to Tabilo on clay in Rome last year and Monte-Carlo earlier this season, Djokovic was intent on revenge in their first hard-court meeting, and he delivered. The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings extended his flawless 28-0 record this year after winning the first set, while also easing concerns about his late-season fitness.<\/p>\n “Playing against Tabilo, who 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 than some other matches and I really tried to draw the energy from the crowd,” Djokovic said.<\/p>\n Djokovic awaits Portugal\u2019s Nuno Borges<\/a> or American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri<\/a> in the quarter-finals in Athens.<\/p>\n In other Tuesday action in the Greek capital, Sebastian Korda<\/a> clawed his way to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win over Damir Dzumhur<\/a> to reach his sixth hard-court quarter-final of the season. With that feat, he tied Taylor Fritz<\/a> and Ben Shelton<\/a> for the most by an American in 2025.<\/p>\n Earlier, Tomas Martin Etcheverry<\/a> rallied past American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald<\/a> 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 6-3 in two hours and 50 minutes. The Argentine saved the only break point he faced in the deciding set and hit 19 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n