ATHENS:
Novak Djokovic made a winning return to action after three weeks on the sidelines, defeating Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets at the Athens ATP tournament on Tuesday.
The top-seeded Serbian, who received a first-round bye, cruised past his 89th-ranked opponent 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 to reach the round of 16 on the indoor hard courts.
Djokovic, 38, had previously lost both his meetings with Tabilo — on clay in Rome last year and Monte Carlo earlier this season — but showed no signs of rust in the Greek capital.
“Facing Tabilo, who I hadn’t beaten before, brought a bit more tension than usual,” Djokovic admitted. “But I drew energy from the amazing crowd. It truly feels like home playing in Athens.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who recently moved to Greece, expressed his fondness for the country:
“Athens has a special place in my heart. Serbians and Greeks share deep historical, cultural, and religious connections. I’ve always loved Greece — and now it’s home.”
The world number five, who secured his place in the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin, handled the first set tiebreak with precision before breaking twice in the second set to seal victory — marking his 225th tour-level quarterfinal appearance.
Djokovic will next face sixth seed Nuno Borges of Portugal, who rallied from a set down to defeat American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
The Serbian had not competed since his semi-final defeat at the Shanghai Masters on October 11 against Valentin Vacherot, opting to skip the Paris Masters to rest and recover.
Emotional tribute to late coach Pilic
Following his second-round win, Djokovic was visibly emotional as organisers paid tribute to his late mentor Nikola Pilic, who passed away in September at age 86.
Pilic, a former French Open finalist (1973) and legendary coach, guided Germany to three Davis Cup titles (1988–1993) and mentored Djokovic from a young age at his academy in Germany.
“It was a deeply emotional moment,” Djokovic said in a post-match interview with the ATP. “Nikola Pilic was my tennis father — someone who shaped not only my career but also my character.”
He added, “As long as I play and live, I will honour his name. He left an incredible mark on tennis and on everyone who knew him. He truly was a special man.”
