Cobolli Gets Revenge on Zverev: Doubles Semifinal in Halle

Flavio Cobolli and Ben Shelton, playing together in doubles for the first time, beat Alexander Zverev and Marcelo Melo 7-6(5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Halle tournament, reaching the semifinal. For the Italian it is a payback with a special flavor: ten days earlier it had been Zverev himself who denied him his first Slam title in the Roland Garros final.

In Paris, on June 7, the German had prevailed in five sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1, getting his hands on his first Major after more than four hours of battle. On the German grass, in a less solemn but not insignificant setting, Cobolli found a way to give back at least part of the blow, this time with Shelton on the other side of the net as his partner.

The improvised pairing had already shown character in the first round, coming back against Adam Pavlasek and Andrea Vavassori after losing the opening set, 2-6, 7-6(5), 10-8. Against Zverev and Melo, one of the most decorated doubles players around, the understanding between the Italian and the American grew rally after rally, until they closed it out without conceding the second set.

It remains to be seen how long this collaboration, born almost as a bit of fun, can last. For Cobolli, in any case, there is the satisfaction of having run into Zverev again and of having got the better of him this time, in a context worth less than the Paris final but one that still leaves a small mark.