Zverev to face Jarry in the Italian Open final after a comeback win over Tabilo

ROME: For about an hour, Alexander Zverev had no answer to the rocket-like forehands and perfectly placed drop shots that Alejandro Tabilo kept producing on Romes red clay. The fifth-ranked Zverev kept patient, though, and took his chance when it came as he rallied to beat his unheralded Chilean opponent 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 on Friday for a spot in the Italian Open final. I was just hanging on the second set. I brought my energy up, Zverev said. He hit me off the court in the first set and I didnt play well at all, but he was a big reason why. He gave me no rhythm. In Sundays final, Zverev will face anothern Chilean, Nicolas Jarry, who beat Tommy Paul 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 on the Americans 27th birthday. The 24th-ranked Jarry came back from a set down to eliminate Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals and will be playing his first Masters Series final. It was an appealing contrast in styles between the big-serving 6-foot-7 (2.01 meter) Jarry, who goes for a lot of his shots, and the more defensive-minded Paul, who grinds it out and likes to make his opponents play longer points. Jarry required five match points to finish off Paul and ended up with 33 winners to his Pauls 20, but also many more unforced errors 49 to 15 in a match that lasted nearly three hours. I go for it. And, if everything goes in, amazing, Jarry said. But its difficult to maintain. Zverev, the 2017 Rome champion, had the pinkie on his left hand bandaged following a fall in his previous match, after which he said his finger was crooked. The German plays right-handed but uses a two-handed backhand. He said his pinkie was swollen and he was using painkillers. I tore a capsule. ... But I didnt break any bones, Zverev said. The finger is still very, very big. It was manageable. Its Zverevs third final in Rome. He won in 2017 by beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets for his first Masters Series title. He lost to Rafael Nadal in the title match a year later. Ive been here before, Zverev said. I know what it takes and hopefully I can use that. Top-ranked Iga Swiatek will play No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the womens final on Saturday. Rome is the last big wamup before the French Open starts on May 26. Zverev, who has disputed a penalty order from a German court over allegations that he caused bodily harm to a woman, faces a trial starting during Roland Garros. He said recently that he wont attend the start of the trial. Zverev leads 4-2 in his career meetings with Jarry but the series is tied 2-2 on clay. Nicolas is one of the most aggressive players we have on the tour, Zverev said. Obviously huge serve, huge forehand. Tries to hit big from both sides of the court. The 32nd-ranked Tabilo eliminated top-ranked Djokovic in the third round on Sunday and hadnt dropped a set in the tournament until errors helped Zverev win the second-set tiebreaker. Zverev then took control early in the third. Tabilo, who is a lefty, saved a break point midway through the first set with a slicing serve out wide to the ad court then produced three drop shots to serve out the set. Zverev and Tabilo were born in the same year and played often as juniors, when Tabilo represented Canada, where he was born.

Tennis: Rethin clinches TK Ramanathan Award

CHENNAI: Rethin Pranav bagged the prestigious TK Ramanathan Award at the Annual Day function of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association here at the SDAT Nungambakkam stadium here on Friday. Rethin also got a cash prize of Rs 30000. The TNTA also honoured noted coach Hiten Joshi for serving the game for 30 years. Vijay Amritraj, president of TNTA, thanked the government for the support it has provided over the years. He pointed out that 2025 was the centenary year of TNTA and the association was looking forward to conduct various events and tournaments including a premier tennis event in the city to mark the occasion. He then distributed the awards to the talented players, prominent amongst whom were 14-year-old Savitha Bhuvaneswari, 13-year-old Deepshika Vinayagamurthy 14-year-old Maya Rajeshwari Revathi and 16-year-old Rethin Pranav. Vijay Amritraj also insisted that talks were on to try and bring the ATP Chennai Open back in the city. We will try our best to bring the premier tournament back in the city, he said. Former India Davis Cup captain Ramesh Krishnan gave away the TK Ramanathan Award.

Tommy Paul advances to the Italian Open semifinals, his best result on clay

Tommy Paul outlasted ninth-ranked Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to earn a spot in the semifinals at the Foro Italico, following up from a straight-set victory over defending champion Daniil Medvedev