Munching on M&Ms, Flavio Cobolli reached his first ATP 1000 SF.
Richard PagliaroAugust 20, 20263 minute learn
Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 20, 2026
Photograph credit score: Cincinnati Open Fb
Munching on M&Ms throughout changeovers, Flavio Cobolli confirmed urge for food for an additional three-set battle.
Rallying from a set down for the second straight day, Cobolli out-dueled Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 reaching his ninth profession semifinal on the Cincinnati Open at the moment.
It was Cobolli’s fourth three-set win of the event and sends him into his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.
The seventh seeded Cobolli joins world No. 1 Jannik Sinner because the second Italian man to achieve the Cincinnati ultimate 4.
Cobolli, who improved to 31-17 on the season, rises to a brand new career-high rating of No. 6.
A particular supply of M&M’s for @cobollifla 🤔
Tennis by no means stops delivering #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/a52cgeyogo
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 20, 2026
The Acapulco champion continues his hunt for a second title of the 12 months. Cobolli will face both Twenty first-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fils or Argentinean Thiago Agustin Tirante, who toppled Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic within the second spherical.
Empowered by saving a match level to battle previous Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev yesterday, Paul was bidding to beat the French Open finalist Cobolli and rating two High 10 wins on the similar occasion for the second time in his profession.
Bursting out of the blocks shortly at the moment, Paul attacked the Cobolli backhand establishing the early lead.
Attacking internet and mixing low slice backhands with angled forehands, Paul unsettled the Italian. Paul pumped an inside-out forehand strike breaking within the opening recreation.
Paul slashed successive aces to serve out the 27-minute opener at 15.
It was a becoming finish to an outstanding serving set. Paul served 75 %, gained 14 of 15 first-serve factors, hit the kick serve to displace the Italian on the Advert court docket and permitted simply 4 factors complete on serve within the set.
Shrugging off the first-set lapse as he did in his 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 win over 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar yesterday, Cobolli got here again clubbing his forehand with extra menace.
Cobolli broke for 3-1 and confirmed the break for 4-1.
Examined to deuce within the seventh recreation, Cobolli cranked an ace and hammered a sequence of forehands coming by means of to carry for 5-2.
On his fourth set level, Cobolli laced a two-handed cross down the road. A lunging Paul totally prolonged for a forehand volley however couldn’t management it as Cobolli pressured a ultimate set.
Paul bungled a difficult excessive smash framing it lengthy to fall behind 15-30 within the fifth recreation.
Shifting ahead, Paul knocked off a forehand volley then used the serve-and-volley successfully keeping off hassle to carry for 3-2.
A cussed Paul dug in and denied 4 break factors within the seventh recreation with some well timed twisting serves down the T. Paul survived a recreation that spanned greater than 11 minutes holding for 4-3.
The Italian Davis Cup hero hammered by means of a fast maintain at 15 then ratcheted up strain on Paul once more.
Each males have sharp anticipation expertise and Cobolli confirmed it to earn the essential break.
At 30-all, Paul arrange for a smash. Cobolli accurately guessed the path and flicked a forehand lob that Paul let drop. Racing again to the baseline, Paul hit a forehand reply solely to see Cobolli rip a forehand and pull off an unbelievable level for break level. Although Paul had a superb take a look at a forehand, he despatched it lengthy ceding the break and a 5-4 lead.
Cobolli crashed his tenth ace the fired one ultimate inside-out forehand closing his second win over Paul—each three-setters in Cincinnati—in as many conferences.
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