Jannik Sinner’s shock early exit has not stopped an Italian takeover at the French Open.
An Italian finalist looked odds-on at the start of the tournament with world number one Sinner appearing unbeatable, only for the 24-year-old to fall in the second round.
But there is guaranteed to be an Italian finalist on Sunday after Flavio Cobolli broke new ground by beating fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.
With Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi meeting in the night session for the right to face Cobolli, there will be a first all-Italian men’s semi-final in grand slam history.
Cobolli could take confidence from having beaten Canadian Auger-Aliassime in both their previous matches, but he had never defeated a top-10 player in a best-of-five-sets match.
That did not look like changing when Auger-Aliassime led by a set and a break but Cobolli responded with a run of four games in a row and did not look back.
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The 24-year-old, who reached his first grand slam quarter-final at Wimbledon last year, was particularly good under pressure, saving eight of the 11 break points he faced.
Cobolli found his game once the roof was shut following the first set – a provision not afforded to world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who struggled with the wind in her shock loss to Diana Shnaider earlier.
“I think we played two different matches today,” said Cobolli. “The first set was incredibly windy, it was incredibly tough to play.
“I went to the toilet to think a bit, to change something. I just say to myself to fight. I felt like this is the chance of my life and I have to give everything. Today I did it so I’m really happy.”
On facing another Italian in the last four, Cobolli added: “It’s Matteo in the semi-final with me, two of my good friends on the tour, so I wish them good luck.”
