Flavio Cobolli fights past Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach first Grand Slam semi-final

Flavio Cobolli produced the definitive performance of his career as he cruised past Felix Auger-Aliassim 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Roland Garros to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final. In a breakthrough moment on Wednesday June 3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, he earned his first-ever top-10 win at a major, having previously gone 0-6 against such opponents.

What stood out most was his composure under pressure, 13 consecutive possessions to close out the match and seal it after three hours and 24 minutes with remarkable composure. He only lost two sets throughout the tournament, which underlines his consistency and growing confidence on the biggest stage. Cobolli is now ranked 10th in the live rankings and will make his debut in the top 10 if Jakub Menšík does not win the title.

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In the semi-finals, Cobolli will face the winner of the second quarter-final between Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi.

HOW COBOLLI REFUSED VS FELIX

In the first set, Cobolli struggled to find a rhythm against the Canadian’s aggressive serve and early control. Auger-Aliassime dictated play with depth and first-stroke tennis, forcing Cobolli into defensive positions. The Italian showed flashes of resistance, but too many unforced errors at key moments allowed the Canadian to take the opener 6-4.

The second set marked the turning point. Cobolli started to get behind the baseline, taking the ball early and redirecting the pace with a forehand. His return position improved and he began to read Auger-Aliassime’s serve patterns more effectively. A crucial mid-set break gave him confidence and he held firm under pressure to level the match at 6-4.

In the third set, Cobolli’s confidence rose. He mixed heavy topspin with sharp angles and stretched the Canadian from side to side. The rally was getting longer and Cobolli was now dictating the pace rather than reacting. The deciding break proved to be enough again as he took the next set 6-4 and turned the match firmly in his favour.

The fourth set was a real test of nerves. Auger-Aliassime pushed hard to stay alive, but Cobolli’s composure stood out. He saved crucial points with bold forehands and maintained relentless consistency from the baseline. He closed out the next set 6-4 to seal a memorable comeback victory.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

03 Jun 2026 23:51 IST