Alejandro Tabilo's 2026 season has taken an unexpected turn for the better.
The Chilean arrived at the US Open having endured a difficult period that left him questioning almost everything about his tennis. Now, he is enjoying one of the most encouraging runs of his career, reaching the third round in New York for the first time.
Tabilo's struggles began earlier in the season when he started experiencing pain in his left wrist during the Miami Open. The injury eventually forced him to take time away from competition and interrupted the momentum he had built on the ATP Tour.
The physical setback was only part of the problem.
As results became harder to find, Tabilo's confidence also began to disappear. The 29-year-old admitted that he went through a period where he questioned himself and struggled to see a clear path forward.
His fortunes have since changed dramatically.
Tabilo has gradually rebuilt his confidence and rediscovered the level of tennis that previously helped him break into the world's top 20. His progress at the US Open is the latest sign that he is once again enjoying his tennis.
The New York run is particularly significant because it represents a first for Tabilo. Despite competing at the tournament several times, he had never previously made it beyond the second round.
This time, he has gone further and done so with a renewed belief in his game.
The Chilean's improvement has not come from simply hitting the ball harder or making major technical changes. Instead, much of his progress has been mental.
After spending months dealing with uncertainty, Tabilo has learned to trust himself again and focus on the process rather than worrying about results.
That shift has helped him play with greater freedom, allowing the aggressive left-hander to use one of his biggest weapons: his ability to dictate points with his forehand and create problems with his varied shot-making.
His 2026 campaign has therefore become something of a rebuilding project.
Not long ago, Tabilo was dealing with injury concerns and a prolonged period of poor form. At the US Open, he is instead competing with the confidence of a player who believes he belongs among the world's best.
The Chilean has described the turnaround as “unbelievable”, a reflection of just how different his situation feels compared with earlier in the year.
Reaching the third round is already a major milestone, but Tabilo will not want his New York adventure to end there.
More importantly, his performance provides evidence that his best tennis may still be ahead of him.
For a player who once found himself doubting everything, Tabilo is now showing exactly what can happen when confidence returns. His US Open run is not simply about advancing through a Grand Slam draw. It is a sign that the Chilean may finally be finding his way back to the player he knows he can be.
