Djokovic Celebrates Greece’s Tennis Comeback with Victory

Novak Djokovic overcame a challenging first set before dominating to defeat Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (3), 6-1 at the Hellenic Championship, marking the return of top-tier tennis to Greece for the first time in over three decades.

In the opening set, both players held serve under significant pressure, with Djokovic narrowly edging out the tiebreak to take the lead. The second set saw a clear shift in momentum as the top seed broke Tabilo twice, completing the match in just over 90 minutes.

Djokovic’s victory secured him a place in the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 tournament. For the 38-year-old Serb, who relocated with his family to Athens earlier this year, the enthusiastic support from the crowd at the Telekom Center made the occasion particularly special.

“It feels really like home playing in Athens,” Djokovic said during an on-court interview. “More than recognition for my tennis achievements, I felt that people here approached me in a friendly and humane way, and that touched my heart.”

Prior to this match, Djokovic had lost his previous two encounters against the 28-year-old Tabilo. Speaking to the crowd, he admitted, “I’m thrilled to get through tonight. I played against Tabilo before and I’ve never won against him, so I was more under tension before this match than I would be before some others.”

The Serbian star was visibly moved while watching a tribute video to Croatian tennis legend Nikola Pilic, who passed away earlier this year. Djokovic trained at Pilic’s academy as a teenager and credited him with having a profound impact on his development.

“He was more than just a mentor and a coach to me,” Djokovic told the crowd. “He was part of my family to me and my brothers. He helped so much. I definitely wouldn’t be here without him.”

Djokovic’s win not only advances him further in the tournament but also heralds a historic revival of elite-level tennis in Greece, capturing the imagination of fans after more than 30 years.