Flavio Cobolli ticked the latest milestone in a 2026 season that has been full of breakthroughs on Wednesday in Cincinnati, rallying from a set down to defeat 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, 4-6 7-6(3) 6-3. 

Most considered Jodar, ranked one spot lower than Cobolli in the ATP rankings, as the favorite in their first career meeting. The Spanish teen, ranked at a career-high No.11, played like the favorite in the beginning, but he was unable to keep up his momentum as Cobolli and his world-class forehand entered the chat. 

Cobolli reaches his first career Masters 1000 quarterfinal on a hard court. Earlier this year he reached his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal on clay in Madrid, then played his maiden Grand Slam final in Roland Garros, where he lost to Alexander Zverev in five sets. 

Cobolli hit 18 winners and broke the Spaniard three times from six opportunities. 

His energy level rose as Jodar’s dipped down the stretch, and he finished with 33 winners to 26 for Jodar. In the final set Cobolli had 12 winners to just six for the Spaniard and he saved the only break point he faced while consolidating his break at 4-2 in the third. 

24-year-old Cobolli improves to 30-17 on the year and will face either Alexander Zverev or Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals.

More to follow…