American tennis player Alex Michelsen staged a comeback to eliminate Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round of the Miami Masters 1000. After the win, Michelsen made a shushing gesture toward the Chilean-supporting crowd, prompting boos from spectators.
Alejandro Tabilo, ATP rank 41 and Chile's top player in the tournament, started strong against Alex Michelsen (rank 40). Tabilo held serve throughout the first set, breaking in the fourth game to lead 6-3 after saving early break chances, consolidating to 4-1 and then 5-3. In the second set, Michelsen improved, breaking Tabilo for 4-2 and holding despite the Chilean failing to convert return opportunities, winning 6-3. The third set stayed close until the seventh game, where Tabilo's double fault handed Michelsen the key break; the American then served out the 6-4 victory. Tabilo had saved prior break points but could not turn the tide. The match on Miami's Court 1 ended controversially: celebrating his round-of-16 advancement, Michelsen put his index finger to his lips toward the stands, where fans largely backed Tabilo, eliciting immediate boos. Michelsen, 21 years old and 1.93 meters tall, progresses in the Miami Open, while Tabilo exits in the third round.
