Flavio Cobolli rallied from two sets to love down for the first time in his career on Tuesday at the US Open, where he battled past Argentine Francisco Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round in New York.
Cobolli lost in the first round at the Australian Open at the start of the season but bounced back at Roland Garros, where he advanced to his maiden major final. For 60 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium, it looked as if the Italian would once again experience first-round pain on the biggest stage.
Yet, Cobolli regrouped, found greater consistency in his play and started firing on the forehand to level. In a tight fifth set, in which he trailed 0-2, the fifth seed eventually sealed victory with a drive volley winner, dropping to his knees and letting out a roar after triumphing in four hours and 14 minutes.
"I want to say thanks to everybody with me on this incredible comeback that I did today," Cobolli said in his on-court interview. "After two sets down I went to the toilets and I changed everything. It's never done, you have to fight until the last point. I have a very incredible team that helped me a lot today, and maybe is the key to looking forward to the next round also."
Cobolli, who had previously lost all eight matches at majors when he had lost the first two sets, will next play qualifier Tristan Schoolkate. The Italian has never been beyond the third round in New York, but arrives at the final Slam of the season in form after reaching the semi-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati last month.
In other action on Day 3, the 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz began his campaign with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win against American wild card Darwin Blanch.
Competing under the roof on Rod Laver Arena, the ninth-seeded American had far too much for his 18-year-old opponent. Fritz overpowered Blanch in the baseline exchanges and was impressive on serve, winning 91 per cent (49/54) of points behind his first delivery.
Fritz is chasing his first major title and has tasted success during the North American hard-court swing this year, lifting the trophy at the ATP 500 event in Washington last month. The 28-year-old will next face Mattia Bellucci.
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