Sebastian Korda, Flavio Cobolli to meet in Washington title match | ATP Tour

Matching Report

From saving MPs to last: Korda, Cobolli set Washington title game

Both finalists saved match points this week at the ATP 500

August 04, 2024

After saving a combined seven matches earlier this week at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Sebastian Korda and Flavio Cobolli advanced to the final of the Washington ATP 500. After rain delayed the start of the semifinals on Saturday evening, Korda eliminated Frances Tiafoe. 6-4, 6-4 on the court and Cobolli beat Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on the court.

Korda, who saved two points against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the third round, wants to match his father Petr Korda (1992) by winning the Washington title. He will play for his second tour-level title in his seventh final.

In the All-American semifinals, he fired 12 aces and saved one point for himself, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He hit 25 winners and committed just five unforced errors in a clean performance against local favorite Tiafoe.

“It was good today. Frances is playing her best tennis here. I just tried to take care of my side of the court,” said Korda. “I think I played really well today and worked well, so maybe that was the key to today.”

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After defeating Italy’s Cobolli in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting earlier in the season in Rome, the American will be hoping to repeat that result on home soil.

“We have never played against each other on a difficult field, but we played on clay in Rome, and it is very difficult to play with him there,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the future. I’m hoping for a good crowd and support, and we’ll see what happens.”

Cobolli used his biggest win of his career in the PIF ATP Rankings to improve to his final tour ranking, knocking out World No. 14 Shelton. The 22-year-old saved five points against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round and earned his third straight three-set win on Saturday night.

“I’m shaking, I’m very happy,” said a dejected Cobolli after the game. “I can’t explain my feelings right now. I’m proud of myself. It’s my first time in the finals… I really enjoyed the match today. This week is unbelievable. I think it’s my week. Every day I wake up and I just want to play my tennis, maybe this is the reason I’m here.

The Italian, who competed in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF last November, rose 15 places to No. 33 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week, setting himself up for a career high. Korda is also set for a new career high after climbing three places to No. 19 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.