Flavio Cobolli Cincinnati: Trails Fils 3-6

Flavio Cobolli Cincinnati is a first Masters 1000 semifinal, and he is already a set down. Sofascore has No. 7 Flavio Cobolli trailing Arthur Fils 3-6 after the first set on Stadium Court, second set 0-0. ESPN had the match in the second set. The winner still reaches a first Masters 1000 final. Cobolli got here the hard way: 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 over Tommy Paul, his fourth straight three-setter of the week, AFP and the Cincinnati Enquirer both had it.

He called for sweets in the Paul match. AFP said he asked for chocolate to be brought to the court, then closed. "A sweet with chocolate makes me happy," Cobolli said. "I've tried it in doubles so why not singles?" He is the 11th different Italian to reach a Masters semifinal since the series began, AFP wrote, and just the second Italian man into the Cincinnati last four after Jannik Sinner in 2024 and 2025.

Flavio Cobolli Cincinnati live: 3-6, Fils, first Masters SF

Fils leads the head-to-head 2-0. Tennis Now had their last meeting in Monte-Carlo this year, Fils in straight sets. Sofascore has a Next Gen Finals 3-0 before that. Cobolli has not taken a set off him. That is the live problem. The other problem is legs. Four three-setters, including a Round of 16 comeback from a set down against Rafael Jodar and the Paul match after Paul had just beaten Alexander Zverev. Fils needed 64 minutes Friday and never faced a break point.

"It was a difficult day," Cobolli said after Paul, per AFP. "I'm proud of my effort, my game and my mental strength. It is all good practice for the US Open. My shape is 100 percent. I may play golf tomorrow on a day off to relax but I will be ready to fight again." Saturday is the fight. IANS said a win over Paul also pushed him to a career-high live ranking of No. 6. Bet365 News called it his first Masters 1000 semifinal and noted the Acapulco title earlier this year.

Paul, the candy, and a first final still on the table

Paul held for 4-3 in the third through five deuces and four break points, AFP wrote. Cobolli broke anyway and served it out 6-4. The Cincinnati Enquirer said he dropped the first set in both the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals and won both. Roland Garros runner-up in June. First Masters 1000 semifinal in August. First set Saturday: 3-6. The math on a first Masters final did not change when Fils took the opener. It just got louder.

The other half of the draw is Frances Tiafoe vs Brandon Nakashima at 6 p.m. Cobolli-Fils is the day session. If Cobolli is going to take a set off Fils for the first time, it has to start now. If he does not, Fils is the first Frenchman into a Masters final in a season where he already copied Guy Forget's 1991 semifinal hat trick. Cobolli did not come through four three-setters to watch that from the baseline.

Flavio Cobolli Cincinnati FAQ

What is the Flavio Cobolli vs Arthur Fils score? Cobolli trails 3-6 after the first set, second set 0-0, per Sofascore live. ESPN listed the match in the second set on Stadium Court.

How did Flavio Cobolli reach the Cincinnati semifinals? He beat Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, his fourth straight three-setter, per AFP and the Cincinnati Enquirer. It is his first Masters 1000 semifinal.

Has Flavio Cobolli beaten Arthur Fils before? No. Fils leads 2-0, Tennis Now and Sofascore both have it, including a straight-sets Monte-Carlo meeting. The winner Saturday reaches a first Masters 1000 final.