Flavio Cobolli has stormed into his first-ever Grand Slam semifinal after knocking Felix Auger-Aliassime out of Roland Garros.
Cobolli defeated Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in windy conditions in Paris, where the roof was closed after one set by tournament organizers.
The Italian certainly coped better with the change to court Philippe Chatrier, on which he will play against compatriot Matteo Arnaldi in the Roland Garros semifinals.
Ahead of that match, former ATP number one Andy Roddick has shared a big realization he has had about Cobolli in the French capital.
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Andy Roddick shares Flavio Cobolli realization at Roland Garros
Speaking on his Served podcast, Roddick said: “The thing he is doing on his serve on the ad side, where he goes down by the alley, and then says I am going to hit this kick serve so well that you have to hit around the outside of the ball to get it back into the court, but once you do I am going to hit this pop forehand where you can’t get away from it once I get that first one.
“He is so committed to that strategy. Everyone knows it’s coming. You see the kick the majority of the time.
“One thing I did not notice until this tournament is one, how much pace he is able to create on his forehand, I think I knew that. But he has a very easy take back.
“Most people with big forehands have a huge wide up, like [Joao] Fonseca, you feel it. But Cobolli has a punchy take back and then is able to create spin.
“It’s like someone in the NBA who can get their shot off really fast vs someone who just shoots well.
“If you get Steph Curry and he’s on one foot, and he can get it up before you have a chance to actually defend. That makes it hard to attack that side.
“When someone has a long take back you can usually beat him with pace, but this guy is not getting beat with pace right now. I think he will still have time against Arnaldi.
“I’m not sure what Arnaldi is going to be able to do to stop that pattern on the ad side which has been dominant for Cobolli to this point.
“This guy is legit. He is going to be top 10 at least unless [Jakub] Mensik wins the tournament as it stands. He looks like a top 10 player. He does not look like he is visiting the top 10.
“He is streaky, but when he is on right now, I was not sure how FAA was getting out of that backhand corner once he got hold of a forehand.”
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Flavio Cobolli’s run to the Roland Garros semifinals
It is unprecedented territory for Cobolli at Grand Slam level, but the 24-year-old has been in scintillating form thus far.
He started his tournament by defeating fellow Italian Andrea Pellegrino, and has since knocked out the likes of seeded players Auger-Aliassime and Learner Tien.
The world number 14, who boasts three career ATP titles, has dropped just two sets en route to the final four.
- R1: def. Andrea Pellegrino 6-4, 7-6(7-4), 6-3
- R2: def. Wu Yibing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
- R3: def. Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
- R4: def. Zachary Svajda 6-2, 6-3, 6-7(3-7), 7-6(7-5)
- QF: def. Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
Cobolli will now be eyeing another world-class display against Arnaldi, with whom he has a 1-1 head-to-head record.
Their history includes a second round clash at Roland Garros this time last year, which Cobolli won 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-1.
Intriguingly, he was knocked out in the next round by Alexander Zverev, who represents a potential final opponent this year.
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