Cobolli survives late drama for Acapulco final berth
Flavio Cobolli earned a hard-fought win Friday to reach his fourth ATP Tour final at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. The 23-year-old dispatched Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 in a two-hour, 26-minute clash, during which Cobolli trailed 1-3 in the decider before tallying five of the next six games to advance.
Facing two break points at 3-3 in the decider, Cobolli crushed serve plus-one forehand winners on back-to-back points to escape danger. The fifth seed again held his nerve after failing to serve out the match at 5-3, quickly rebounding to earn a 0/40 lead the following game. He converted his second match point and raised his arms in relief.
“We played an incredible match,” said 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 reach three ATP 500 finals since the series began in 2009, joining Jannik Sinner (9) and Fabio Fognini (3). He will next meet an American in the final, either eighth seed Frances Tiafoe or Brandon Nakashima. Should Cobolli win the Acapulco crown, he could surpass his career-high No. 17.
Kecmanovic was aiming to reach his first ATP 500 final. The Belgrade native upset World No. 4 Alexander Zverev in the second round for the best win of his career by PIF ATP Ranking.
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