Schwartzman stunned as qualifier Tabilo reaches first final

Qualifier Alejandro Tabilo stunned top seed Diego Schwartzman to progress to his first ATP Tour final at the Cordoba Open.

Schwartzman, the world number 14, had been hoping to win a title on home soil in Argentina for the second time in his career.

But his Chilean opponent continued his remarkable run with a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) upset, the world number 144 now having won 12 successive sets at the tournament stretching back to qualifying.

Tabilo only won his first title on the Challenger Tour in November but has carried that momentum through into 2022.

“I’ve been playing my best tennis for a few months now and I finished the year strong,” said Tabilo.

“I think I just needed one of these weeks to kind of click and get going. Hopefully this is the start of something good, and hopefully I can keep this level.”

Tabilo will face Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the final after the Spaniard beat another home hope in Juan Ignacio Londero.

Ramos-Vinolas prevailed 7-6 (7-4) 6-4, surpassing his own expectations after a first-round exit at the Australian Open.

“When I came here after Australia, I didn’t expect to be in the final, to be honest,” he said.

“I was not playing my best. The pre-season [I worked] very hard but the feeling was not very good.

“Now I’m in the final. The only thing I can do is try to fight as much as I can.”