The ATP Mallorca Open final is set and it is a bit of a surprise with two players who generally play their best tennis on clay. There were plenty of upsets this week in Mallorca, with Tabilo the top-seeded player to reach the semifinals at #4 while Ofner came in unseeded in the midst of poor form. They both have enjoyed a fairly comfortable run to the finals, losing just two sets combined in their last six matches. Both players are of similar build and styles creating what should be a competitive match.
ATP Mallorca Final Prediction
Alejandro Tabilo vs Sebastian Ofner
Head-to-head: 1-0 Ofner
Ofner beat Tabilo in straight sets at their one former meeting, at qualifying for the Australian Open. The grass courts will cause a different matchup with Tabilo hoping to use a strong serve to take advantage of the quick speeds and avoid letting Ofner into the match. Each player has limited success on the surface, with Ofner the only one of them to make a Challenger final on grass. Tabilo has shown a lot of growth in his game this year, highlighted by his first career title on the hard courts in Aukland. Ofner’s form has not been the same, entering Mallorca with a losing record in 2024 with no ATP titles or even finals to his name before this week.
In addition to form, Tabilo has had a tougher draw this week and has dealt with the adversity well. His semifinal against Gael Monfils was incredibly tight, saving multiple break points in the final set before triumphing in a tiebreaker. Ofner has had a fairly easy draw but has made the most of it and won convincingly. They play a similar style and while Tabilo has a bit of a stronger all-surface game, there is little there to differentiate them. This match will come down to serving and who can convert key break points. While they each have strong serves, serving pressure points in a final is a matter of holding nerve as much as skill. Tabilo has more experience in big matches, has been tested more in Mallorca, and should be more composed which will be the difference to help him lift his second trophy of the year.
Prediction: Tabilo in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
