Flavio Cobolli, the tenth seed, upset fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in a quarterfinal match at Roland-Garros on June 3, 2026, securing an all-Italian semifinal. Cobolli came from behind to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 under the stadium roof as light rain fell outside.
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This victory guarantees an Italian finalist, as Cobolli will face either Matteo Berrettini or Matteo Arnaldi in the semifinals. Both Cobolli and Auger-Aliassime recognized the significance of this match, especially after the exits of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, alongside Carlos Alcaraz's absence.
With this win, Cobolli also marked his entry into the ATP top 10 rankings, having previously defeated Auger-Aliassime in all three of their meetings. Reflecting on his performance, Cobolli noted that the first set was challenging due to windy conditions, which prompted him to reassess his strategy during a bathroom break.
"I think this is the best score that I ever played in my life because I can play my best tennis. I just said to myself to fight because I felt like this is the chance of my life," Cobolli stated.
Auger-Aliassime managed to handle the early windy conditions better, taking the first set and taking a 3-1 lead in the second. However, as Cobolli regained his confidence, he cut down on his unforced errors and won five of the next six games to level the match.
Despite a valiant effort from Auger-Aliassime, including a remarkable dive to reach a drop shot, Cobolli maintained his composure and fought through the pressure, famously shouting "Vamos!" as he approached the final stages of the match. He attributed his success to staying calm and focused on his game.
As he prepares for his next match, Cobolli expressed his excitement about his compatriots' successes, highlighting that it’s significant for Italian tennis that several players have made it to the latter stages of the tournament.