Cobolli Outlasts Comesana 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in New York

Flavio Cobolli survived a grueling opening test in New York, overcoming a first-set setback to defeat Francisco Comesana 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Early on, Comesana, a clay-court specialist, found success by pushing Cobolli three meters behind the baseline with heavy, high-topspin forehands. The Italian struggled to find his timing on the rising ball, leaking unforced errors from his backhand wing and dropping the opening set.

Cobolli Adjusts Court Position to Neutralize Comesana's Deep Clay-Court Loop

The tactical pivot came early in the second set. Cobolli, currently ranked No. 6 in the ATP rankings, stepped inside the baseline to take Comesana's looping balls on the rise. By shortening his backswing on the return of serve, Cobolli took time away from the Argentine, immediately breaking to love and shifting the match momentum. This adjustment allowed the aggressive Italian baseliner to dictate play with his inside-out forehand.

As Cobolli established his offensive rhythm, his court positioning grew increasingly aggressive. He began hunting short balls, finishing points at the net and preventing Comesana from settling into the extended baseline exchanges that favor the Argentine's counterpunching style.

Physical Resilience Decides the Hard-Court War of Attrition

As the match wore into the fourth and fifth sets, physical conditioning became the defining factor. Cobolli's superior lateral movement allowed him to defend the corners effectively, forcing Comesana into playing low-percentage shots. Cobolli won 74% of his first-serve points by targeting the Argentine’s backhand wing, creating immediate offensive opportunities on the next shot.

Meanwhile, on the women's side, Elena Rybakina secured a straight-sets victory over Thea Frodin. However, Rybakina's physical status remains a concern; she revealed she suffered an Achilles tendon injury at the Cincinnati Open that kept her from training for seven days, a situation we explored in our coverage of Rybakina's physical struggles.

Rivalry Matchup & Player Profiles

Flavio Cobolli leads their head-to-head rivalry 2-0. Their most notable battle took place in the first round of the 2026 tournament, where Cobolli staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Cobolli's aggressive baseline style eventually wore down the defensive counterpunching of the Argentine, demonstrating the Italian's growing maturity on fast hard courts. His ability to hit through slow, heavy conditions remains a key asset as he progresses further into the tournament.