🇷🇺 Roman Safiullin vs 🇨🇱 Alejandro Tabilo

🎾 ATP Cincinnati – First Round Preview

🇷🇺 Roman Safiullin vs 🇨🇱 Alejandro Tabilo

🧠 Form & Context

• Roman Safiullin
  • 💪 Consistent activity: Though sitting at 11–17 on the year, Safiullin has stayed healthy and in rhythm—something not to overlook at this stage of the season.
  • ⚡ Miami spark: Beat Brooksby and Popyrin to make R3—his only tour-level back-to-back wins of 2025 so far.
  • 🎾 Hard-court base: 7–9 on hard this season, with most matches being long, tactical affairs—he’s proven his grind game holds up.
• Alejandro Tabilo
  • ⏸ Long layoff: Missed the entire grass season and more with injury/off-court issues, leaving him undercooked for high-level matches.
  • 🔄 Sluggish 2025: Only 2–5 on hard this year; nowhere near the form that saw him reach world No. 19 last season.
  • 🆚 Ranking reset: Now outside the top 100 with virtually no points to defend—pressure is off, but rust is real.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This matchup is all about contrast: Safiullin brings rhythm and grind, while Tabilo brings uncertainty and latent explosiveness.

Safiullin will look to extend rallies, test Tabilo’s movement, and push him deep behind the baseline. His backhand may not flash winners, but it’s rock-solid, and his fitness is one of his quiet weapons. Expect long exchanges and physical pressure.

Tabilo can absolutely turn it on when locked in—his lefty forehand is a weapon, and his aggressive court positioning can flip points fast. But with no recent match play, expect mistimed swings and inconsistency in longer rallies.

Unless Tabilo comes out red-lining and keeps it up for two sets straight, this is a dangerous matchup for someone still playing catch-up in terms of rhythm. Safiullin will absorb pressure, then turn the screws when Tabilo dips—even slightly.

🔮 Prediction

Safiullin’s been in the trenches all season, and that pays off here. His match toughness and clean baseline structure should be too much for a rusty Tabilo to overcome without a warm-up phase. Expect a tug-of-war early, but the Russian to pull away late in both sets.

🧩 Pick: Safiullin in 2 tight sets.

Hard court form + fitness > raw talent without rhythm. The smart play is the steady hand.