Flavio Cobolli survives late drama for Acapulco final berth | ATP Tour
Acapulco
Cobolli survives late drama for Acapulco final berth
The 23-year-old joins Sinner and Fognini as solely Italians to achieve at the least three ATP 500 finals
February 28, 2026
Mextenis
Flavio Cobolli crushes 37 winners en path to three-set semi-final victory in Acapulco.
By ATP Staff
Flavio Cobolli earned a hard-fought win Friday to achieve his fourth ATP Tour final on the Telcel Mexican Open presented by HSBC. The 23-year-old dispatched Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 in a two-hour, 26-minute conflict, throughout which Cobolli trailed 1-3 within the decider earlier than tallying 5 of the subsequent six video games to advance.
Facing two break factors at 3-3 within the decider, Cobolli crushed serves plus-one forehand winners on back-to-back factors to flee hazard. The fifth seed once more held his nerve after failing to serve out the match at 5-3, shortly rebounding to earn a 0/40 lead the next sport. He transformed his second match level and raised his arms in aid.
“We played an incredible match,” mentioned Cobolli. “I’m really happy to be in the final for the first time here in Mexico. I think we both played an amazing match. I was a little bit lucky at the end, because at the crucial points sometimes you need luck. I’m really proud of myself because it wasn’t easy to come back.”
Cobolli is the third Italian to achieve three ATP 500 finals for the reason that collection started in 2009, becoming a member of Jannik Sinner (9) and Fabio Fognini (3). He will subsequent meet an American within the final, both eighth seed Frances Tiafoe or Brandon Nakashima. Should Cobolli win the Acapulco crown, he may surpass his career-high No. 17.
Kecmanovic was aiming to achieve his first ATP 500 final. The Belgrade native upset World No. 4 Alexander Zverev within the second spherical for the very best win of his profession by PIF ATP Ranking.
