Head To Head First Meeting.

In a thrilling first-time encounter, Flavio Cobolli of Italy will take on the number 10 seed, Tommy Paul from the United States. Cobolli, currently ranked 31st in the world, has had a remarkable journey in his tennis career. Breaking into the top 200 in January 2022 and later reaching the top 100 in October 2023, Cobolli achieved his career-high ranking of 31st in August 2024 after reaching his first ATP Tour final in Washington.

Cobolli’s biggest victories so far include defeating the 15th-ranked Shelton on his way to his first ATP Tour semifinal in Geneva in 2024 and defeating the 14th-ranked player to reach his first final in Washington that same year. Another significant milestone for Cobolli was his victory over the 18th-ranked Jarry, which marked his first win against a player in the top 20 and propelled him to reach the third round of a Grand Slam at the 2024 Australian Open.

One cannot overlook Cobolli’s incredible ATP Tour main draw debut in 2021 at Parma, where he saved three match points against Giron and emerged victorious in a gripping three-set match. It is worth mentioning that at that time, Cobolli was ranked as low as 429th in the world and received a wild card entry.

While still establishing himself on the professional circuit, Cobolli has also had success on the Challenger Tour. He has clinched titles at the 2022 Zadar and 2023 Lisbon tournaments and reached the finals at the 2021 Rome-2, 2021 Barletta, and 2023 Olbia events. In the junior ranks, Cobolli peaked at No. 8 and concluded his junior career triumphantly by winning the 2020 Roland Garros boys’ doubles title alongside his partner, Stricker.

Cobolli enters this matchup with a burning desire to secure the biggest win of his career. Although he has a challenging record against top 20 players, with only four wins and nine losses, Cobolli has recently displayed his prowess by defeating the 14th-ranked Shelton in Washington and the 19th-ranked Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Masters 1000 Montreal over the past few weeks. Furthermore, all five of Cobolli’s ATP Tour Masters 1000 wins this year, including victories in Madrid, Miami, Montreal, and Rome, have added to his growing confidence.

On the other side of the net stands Tommy Paul, the 27-year-old American who currently holds the 13th spot in the world rankings. Paul’s tennis journey has seen him achieve a career-high ranking of 12th in October 2023 after a groundbreaking performance earlier that year, becoming the first American man to reach the Australian Open semifinals since Roddick in 2009.

Paul has tasted success against some of the biggest names in the sport, boasting a 7-12 record against players ranked in the top 5. Notably, his biggest career win came against the World No. 1, Alcaraz, in the ATP Masters 1000 Toronto, where he secured a place in his first ever Masters 1000 semifinal. Paul’s breakthrough on the ATP Tour came in 2021 at the Stockholm tournament, where he defeated fellow junior rivals Fritz and Tiafoe en route to lifting his maiden ATP Tour title.

The American has continued to impress, adding a second ATP Tour title to his name at the 2024 Dallas event, and reaching the semifinals of ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Rome. In Rome, Paul stunned the defending champion, Medvedev, with a scintillating victory in the fourth round. Paul has also caused upsets at ATP Masters 1000 events in the past, beating the likes of Nadal, A. Zverev, and Alcaraz in Paris, Indian Wells, and Montreal respectively.

In the junior ranks, Paul has already showcased his talent, winning the 2015 Roland Garros boys’ singles title by defeating Fritz, and reaching the final in both the boys’ doubles at Roland Garros and the boys’ singles at the US Open that same year.

Interestingly, Paul began his successful ATP Masters 1000 journey at the Cincinnati tournament in 2017, where he secured his first of 47 career wins in this prestigious series by defeating Young as a wild card ranked 175th. It is also noteworthy that Paul has enjoyed a six-match winning streak against Italian opponents since his loss to Sinner at the 2023 ATP Masters 1000 Toronto.

As Cobolli and Paul step onto the court for their first-ever meeting, both players will be determined to secure their place in the next round. Cobolli, eager to continue his remarkable rise and earn the biggest win of his career, will rely on his recent triumphs against top-ranked opponents. Meanwhile, Paul will bring his wealth of experience and confidence, looking to extend his winning streak against Italian players and etch his name further in the ATP Tour annals. The clash between Cobolli and Paul promises an exciting battle, as these two talented players bring their best to the court in this highly anticipated encounter.