Flavio Cobolli pulls upset in DC semifinal

Field Level Media|published: 08/04/2024, 12:57am EDT

Aug 1, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Flavio Cobolli (ITA) reacts after match point against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)(not pictured) on day six of the Mubadala City DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Tenth-seeded Flavio Cobolli came from a set down to knock off second-seeded Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in one semifinal of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Washington D.C. on Saturday night.

In Sunday's final, Cobolli will face Sebastian Korda. The fourth seed defeated fifth-seeded Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-4 in a matchup of Americans that lasted 85 minutes.

Cobolli, who is looking for his first ATP Tour victory, jumped ahead 3-0 in the third set. Shelton came within 4-2 and 5-3 before the 22-year-old Cobolli won all four points in the final game to wrap up the match, which lasted just over two hours.

Korda, who will be looking for his second career title, led in aces 12-8 and nearly doubled Tiafoe in winners 29-15. Neither player led by more than two games in either set.

Korda's first title came in the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma, Italy.

--Field Level Media