Former champion Alexander Zverev came back from a disastrous start to beat Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 on Friday to reach the Italian Open final.

The German third seed, who won the title in 2017 and reached the final the following year, looked in real danger when the 29th seed Tabilo raced away with the first set.

Tabilo won five games in a row in taking the opener, but the second was much closer. Zverev then raised his game in the deciding set, breaking twice, to reach his first final of the year.

Tommy Paul beat ninth-ranked Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals. He will face Nicolas Jarry, who rallied past Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

In the women’s challenge, second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Danielle Collins 7-5, 6-2 in the semi-finals on Thursday. Sabalenka handed the retiring American only her second loss since early March.

She will take on Iga Swiatek who is trying to complete the “dirt double” by winning the Madrid Open and Italian Open on the trot.