PARIS, June 4(H.S.): Italy’s rising tennis star Flavio Cobolli produced a remarkable performance at the 2026 French Open, advancing to the first Grand Slam semifinal of his career. In the men's singles quarterfinal at French Open 2026, Cobolli defeated Canada’s fourth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

The 24-year-old Italian bounced back strongly after losing the opening set, claiming the next three consecutive sets to secure the biggest Grand Slam result of his career. Following the victory, Cobolli described the tournament week as the most memorable of his life.

The match began under challenging conditions, with strong winds affecting both players. After dropping the first set, Cobolli regained his rhythm once the stadium roof was closed. Relying on aggressive forehand play and exceptional footwork, he gradually turned the contest in his favor.

With the win, Cobolli also registered his first-ever victory over a top-10 ranked player in a Grand Slam tournament. In the live ATP rankings, he has climbed from No. 14 to No. 10, marking the highest ranking of his career.

In the semifinals, Cobolli will face the winner of the quarterfinal between fellow Italians Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi. As a result, it is now guaranteed that an Italian player will reach the men's singles final.

Cobolli’s achievement has added a new chapter to Italian tennis history. It marks only the third occasion that two Italian men have reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament. It is also the first time that an all-Italian men's semifinal has been assured at a Grand Slam event.

Notably, the last Italian player to win the French Open men's singles title was Adriano Panatta, who accomplished the feat in 1976. Nearly five decades later, Cobolli now has an opportunity to bring the Roland Garros crown back to Italy.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar