Flavio Cobolli takes on Stanislas Wawrinka in Monday's Shanghai Masters third-round match, keen to avoid an early exit against the 16-time Tour-level champion.
The Italian has had mixed outcomes in Masters 1000 events this year but aims to avoid another premature departure against his veteran opponent.
Match preview
Cobolli makes his Shanghai Masters debut on Monday, hoping to avoid a tournament-opening elimination at the hands of his Swiss opponent.
The 22-year-old Italian only turned pro four years ago and is making up for lost time on the ATP Tour, even if results at 1000 events have been mixed.
The world No. 30 and 28th seed in Shanghai entered this year's competition on a 7-8 win-loss record in the ATP 1000 tournaments, underscoring his inconsistency and inability to go beyond his opening or second-round matches.
This year's 7-6 record before facing Wawrinka further buttresses that point, although his best run came at the most recent tournament in Cincinnati before the season's final Major in the United States.
Cobolli reached the round of 16 in Cincy before losing to Hubert Hurkacz, and he hopes to at least build on that run with a similar showing in Shanghai, and avoiding a second-round defeat places him in a position for possible success.
Although a 16-time champion on the Tour, the experienced Swiss player is past his prime and entered the tournament in Shanghai on a 5-13 record in 2024 before his round-one triumph against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Thursday's tight 7-6(2), 7-6(6) saw the world No. 236 triumph in two tiebreaks, but he must play at a higher level against his Italian opponent.
In a first-round match littered with double-faults — each player had four each — and failure to convert nine break opportunities, with Wawrinka's six dwarfing Perricard's three, the 39-year-old triumphed having executed better on his second serve, winning 70% of points after landing those to the Frenchman's 57%.
However, he may not get away with landing just 47% of first serves against a higher-ranked opponent as he aims to record only his second Masters 1000 victory of the season in Monday's round-two battle.
Tournament so far
Flavio Cobolli:
First round: Bye
Stanislas Wawrinka:
First round: vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6[2] 7-6[6]
Head To Head
Monday's match-up will be the first meeting between the players on the ATP Tour, as they aim to advance to the tournament's third round.
Cobolli's 33 victories in 2024 outdo his Swiss opponent significantly, with Wawrinka holding a 6-13 record entering their Shanghai Masters encounter.
We say: Cobolli to win in three sets
Although neither player has pulled up trees at Masters events this year — albeit with Wawrinka's participation in Shanghai marking his third ATP 1000 event — Cobolli notching far more wins under his belt and the motivation to build on a recent commendable run in Cincinnati should see the Italian edge the 39-year-old.
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