{"id":43737,"date":"2025-08-04T04:01:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T04:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/43737\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T04:01:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T04:01:08","slug":"shelton-takes-out-cobolli-in-heated-toronto-affair-tennis-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/43737\/","title":{"rendered":"Shelton Takes Out Cobolli In Heated Toronto Affair \u2013 Tennis Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tempers flared, tension mounted, and Shelton soared.<\/p>\n

Ben Shelton<\/a> found himself a break down in the third set against Italy\u2019s Flavio Cobolli on Sunday night in Toronto, but the American dug himself out of the hole to defeat his adversary, 6-4 4-6 7-6(1).<\/p>\n

In the process Shelton earned his 100th career win, and the 22-year-old advances to face Alex de Minaur in his fourth career Masters 1000 quarterfinal as he seeks his first trip to a semifinal at this level.<\/p>\n

With the win Shelton becomes the the 8th man born in 21st century reach 100 wins, and the 9th active American man to achieve the feat.<\/p>\n

\"TennisTennis Express player gear<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I was really mentally tough tonight,\u201d Shelton later told the media. \u201cI got to give credit to Flavio, he did a lot of things throughout the match that made it difficult. I thought he played very well. He\u2019s really fast, neutralizes a lot of things that I do well, and that\u2019s always a tough matchup for me, so just happy to come through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The battle intensified down the stretch, as Shelton rallied from 5-3 down to level up and force a breaker with the 23-year-old.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t exactly clear what Cobolli had done, but when the pair met as the match concluded, Shelton called out the Italian for a gesture that he made. Cobolli and Shelton had a long discussion, with Cobolli saying it wasn\u2019t directed at Shelton, as he also said that he was simply voicing frustration at himself for squandering a lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just made a gesture in the tiebreaker in asked him about it. He said it wasn\u2019t towards me so we\u2019re cool,\u201d Shelton said on court after the match.<\/p>\n

Ben Shelton on the exchange with Flavio Cobolli after their match in Toronto<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you walk us through that discussion?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben: \u201cHe just made a gesture in the tiebreaker in asked him about it. He said it wasn\u2019t towards me so we\u2019re cool.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/F7DtsDNTvS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 4, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

The American was pressed about the issue again in his post-match interview and said: \u201cHe said it wasn\u2019t towards me. We\u2019re good. We talked about it in the locker room, so I\u2019m not going to answer any more questions about that. There\u2019s no story, we\u2019re good, that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cobolli seemed to have the match in hand, serving at 5-4, 15-0 in the final set, but his luck went south from there. The Italian double faulted to give Shelton two break points and the American converted the second as Cobolli missed a forehand wide to take the score to 5-all.<\/p>\n

He held in the next game to lead 6-5, and even though he squandered a match point in the 12th game, Shelton dominated the ensuing tiebreak to close out the win in 2:24.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was able to get a second chance by holding my serve and getting to the point where he had to serve it out,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not always easy, especially on a night like this where it\u2019s windy and not as hot, not bouncing as high as it is during the day, to serve out sets in matches. Same with me in the first set. I got broke serving for the set, and then he got broke trying to serve to stay in it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a nervy match and it was difficult, I think kind of after getting through that game and, you know, being able to bring my energy level back to where I wanted it to be at, and to get a confident hold at 5-all was huge for me.\u201d<\/p>\n