By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Photograph credit score: Jeff Dean/USTA
Marathon man Flavio Cobolli confirmed a spirited closing kick in his first comeback win from a two-set deficit.
Battling again from the brink, Cobolli threw all of it at Francisco Comesana roaring again for a 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 6-4, 6-4 victory to scrape into the US Open third spherical for the third yr in a row.
It’s Cobolli’s first comeback from a two-set gap as he improved to 5-3 lifetime in five-setters, together with a 3-0 mark in five-set matches on the US Open.
An opportunistic Cobolli transformed six of 18 break-point possibilities.
“Because of everyone for serving to me on this unbelievable comeback,” Cobolli stated in his on-court interview. “After two units down I went to the bathroom and adjusted every thing.
“Possibly every thing unfortunate I modified every thing. In a Grand Slam, it’s by no means accomplished. You need to combat for each level. Possibly it’s the important thing.”
Cobolli put his toot down within the last set and celebrated eradicating his On sneaker and handing the shoe memento to a younger fan sporting a crimson shirt who was repeatedly screaming “Flavio! Flavio!” in an effort to get the Italian’s consideration.
Even when he performed barefoot, Cobolli could be a troublesome out in majors.
French Open finalist Cobolli scored his tenth Grand Slam win of the season becoming a member of Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Jakub Mensik because the fifth man to put up 10 or extra main wins this yr.
The fifth-seeded Cobolli will play a qualifier, both Tristan Schoolkate or Nishesh Basavareddy for a spot within the Flushing Meadows third spherical.
It’s the second time this season Comesana got here very near knocking out an Italian former main finalist solely to fall frustratingly brief.
Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini saved two match factors edging Comesana in a 5 hour, 13-minute epic at Roland Garros. The world No. 105 Berrettini went on to turn into the lowest-ranked males’s Roland Garros quarterfinalist since Russian Igor Andreev in 2007.
The Argentinean was gaining the sting in forehand exchanges constructing that two set lead in a wet begin that drive the retractable roof over Armstrong Stadium closed.
Comesana broke for a 6-3, 2-1 lead. The Argentinean labored via a problem maintain at 30 to again up the break for 3-1.
Prevailing in forehand exchanges, Comesana gained triple break level within the seventh recreation.
Studying the large serve, Comesana cranked a deep forehand return. Pushed to reply off his again foot, Cobolli flailed a forehand lengthy because the world No. 119 broke for the fourth time extending his result in 5-2.
Stunning the Italian with a second-serve ace down the T, Comesana claimed a two-set lead after 88 minutes of play.
Each males left the courtroom for a clothes change.
When play resumed Comesana danced round his backhand and lasered a diagonal forehand for double break level within the early phases of the third set.
The Italian Davis Cup hero landed a pair of twisting first serves to dodge the dilemma then hammered a forehand down the road holding for 2-1.
That stand sparked Cobolli, who broke for 3-1 on the energy of some penetrating forehands. Cobolli saved a break level with an aggressive web assault then labored via a three-deuce recreation to verify the break for 4-1.
Credit score Comesana for erasing 4 set factors within the longest recreation of the set as he held for 3-5. Empowered, Comesana flattened a forehand drive down the road for Love-30 within the ninth recreation. Staring down one other break level, Cobolli threw down a 129 mph serve large to reserve it. Comesana induced a netted forehand for a second break level. Cobolli saved it once more then curled a crosscourt winner to transform his sixth set level.
Waving his arms, Cobolli exhorted Armstrong Stadium followers to make extra noise as he compelled a fourth set.
Taking the third set enabled Cobolli to play extra freely within the early phases of the fourth. Forcing Comesana again behind the baseline at occasions with deep forehands, Cobolli coaxed the error breaking to start out the fourth set.
Taking part in with extra emotional hearth and power, Cobolli broke twice within the fourth set.
The fifth seed smacked his fourth ace out large to drive a last set after three hours, 13 minutes of play.
Resetting, Comesana cranked up the tempo on a forehand down the road. Cobolli received to the ball however couldn’t management his backhand reply as the person from Mar del Plata broke with a clenched fist for a 2-0 lead. Cobolli got here proper again to carve out the love break within the third recreation.
A sweaty seventh recreation waged on till Comesana got here via a gripping maintain to edge forward 4-3.
Placing strain on his opponent with some down the road strikes, Cobolli earned double break level within the ninth recreation. On the second break level, Cobolli smacked a forehand return proper again down the center rattling out an error to interrupt for 5-4.
Serving for the second spherical, Cobolli double faulted to face two break factors. Cobolli saved each then completed with a flourish following a large serve and whipping a forehand drive volley winner to shut a 4 hour, 13 minute triumph.
“It’s actually enjoyable to play on this courtroom,” Cobolli stated. “I all the time dreamed to play on this type of stage this type of match. So each time I’ve an opportunity to play on this courtroom I put my coronary heart on the courtroom. I’m like this. I’m a warrior and at this time everyone [saw].”
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