Archive of posts tagged Cobolli

Ben Shelton edges Flavio Cobolli ahead of post-match Toronto drama

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Ben Shelton

World no. 7 Ben Shelton will compete in his fourth Masters 1000 quarter-final in Toronto. A left-hander faced Flavio Cobolli in the fourth round and notched a tight 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 victory in two hours and 24 minutes.

It was their fourth duel, and the American collected his second win after a post-match drama. Cobolli did not like Shelton's acting in the tie break, although they settled everything after taking for a minute.

The Italian led 5-3 in the third set and serve for the win in game ten. He lost serve in the decisive moment and faced a match point at 5-6. He saved it, but Ben dominated the tie break to remain on the title course.

Shelton claimed three points more. He played against ten break points and suffered three breaks. It was not enough for Flavio to bring the victory home, serving at only 45% and losing serve three times.

They sprayed 90 unforced errors. The American fired 17 service winners more than the Italian, who had the upper hand from the baseline. A left-hander had the advantage in the shortest and most extended rallies.

However, it all came down to his late break and a stellar performance in the tie break. Ben made a strong start, landing a volley winner in the fourth game for a break and a 3-1 advantage. 

Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025

Ben Shelton, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The favorite served for the set at 5-3 and suffered a break at 15 after the rival's forehand winner. Instead of building on that, Flavio played a wild forehand at 4-5, dropping serve again and allowing his rival to wrap up the opener.

The Italian raised his level in the second set. He drew Shelton's mistake in the third game and received a medical timeout during the break. They served well by the end of the set, and Cobolli landed an ace at 5-4 to introduce a decider.

Carried by this boost, Flavio wasted game points early in the final set before earning a break at 15 at 2-2 after Ben's routine forehand error. The Italian provided two fine holds and opened a 5-3 gap. 

Ben Shelton & Flavio Cobolli, Toronto 2025

Ben Shelton & Flavio Cobolli, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Cobolli served for the win at 5-4 and sprayed a forehand error, losing serve and missing a chance to earn a notable win. Flavio served to stay in the encounter at 5-6 and denied a match point after Ben's careless forehand. 

The set went into a tie break, and the American kept his composure. Shelton secured two early mini-breaks for a 3-0 advantage and provided two more mini-breaks for 6-1 and five match points. 

A left-hander seized the first with a booming serve, sealing the deal and reaching the quarter-final.

Shelton Takes Out Cobolli In Heated Toronto Affair

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Tempers flared, tension mounted, and Shelton soared.

Ben Shelton found himself a break down in the third set against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli on Sunday night in Toronto, but the American dug himself out of the hole to defeat his adversary, 6-4 4-6 7-6(1).

In the process Shelton earned his 100th career win, and the 22-year-old advances to face Alex de Minaur in his fourth career Masters 1000 quarterfinal as he seeks his first trip to a semifinal at this level.

With the win Shelton becomes the the 8th man born in 21st century reach 100 wins, and the 9th active American man to achieve the feat.

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Tennis Express player gear

“I think I was really mentally tough tonight,” Shelton later told the media. “I got to give credit to Flavio, he did a lot of things throughout the match that made it difficult. I thought he played very well. He’s really fast, neutralizes a lot of things that I do well, and that’s always a tough matchup for me, so just happy to come through it.”

The battle intensified down the stretch, as Shelton rallied from 5-3 down to level up and force a breaker with the 23-year-old.

It wasn’t exactly clear what Cobolli had done, but when the pair met as the match concluded, Shelton called out the Italian for a gesture that he made. Cobolli and Shelton had a long discussion, with Cobolli saying it wasn’t directed at Shelton, as he also said that he was simply voicing frustration at himself for squandering a lead.

“He just made a gesture in the tiebreaker in asked him about it. He said it wasn’t towards me so we’re cool,” Shelton said on court after the match.

The American was pressed about the issue again in his post-match interview and said: “He said it wasn’t towards me. We’re good. We talked about it in the locker room, so I’m not going to answer any more questions about that. There’s no story, we’re good, that’s it.”

Cobolli seemed to have the match in hand, serving at 5-4, 15-0 in the final set, but his luck went south from there. The Italian double faulted to give Shelton two break points and the American converted the second as Cobolli missed a forehand wide to take the score to 5-all.

He held in the next game to lead 6-5, and even though he squandered a match point in the 12th game, Shelton dominated the ensuing tiebreak to close out the win in 2:24.

“I was able to get a second chance by holding my serve and getting to the point where he had to serve it out,” he said. “It’s not always easy, especially on a night like this where it’s windy and not as hot, not bouncing as high as it is during the day, to serve out sets in matches. Same with me in the first set. I got broke serving for the set, and then he got broke trying to serve to stay in it.

“It was a nervy match and it was difficult, I think kind of after getting through that game and, you know, being able to bring my energy level back to where I wanted it to be at, and to get a confident hold at 5-all was huge for me.”