Flavio Cobolli advanced to the semi-finals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters on Thursday with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Tommy Paul, gobbling down a handful of sweets for an unorthodox boost midway through the match.
“I’ve tried it in doubles so why not singles? In the women’s draw, world number three Jessica Pegula extended her dominance over Amanda Anisimova, beating her fellow American 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 to reach the semis.
“A sweet with chocolate makes me happy,” Cobolli said.
“I’m proud of my effort, my game and my mental strength. It is all good practice for the US Open. After Anisimova squared the match at one-set each, Pegula regrouped with an opening break in the deciding set. They would each be broken twice as they went to the tiebreaker, where Pegula sealed the win on her first match point.
With the match tied at a set apiece, the American needed an extraordinary effort to hold serve for 4-3 in the final set, battling through five deuces and saving four break points. Pegula is setting WTA records at age 32. She’s the fourth player since 2009 to reach five or more Masters 1000 quarter-finals after turning 30, along with Li Na, Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
“It was a difficult day,” the winner said.
