Fifth seed Cobolli fights back from two sets down to avoid another US Open upset

Flavio Cobolli changed everything after losing the first two sets, then fought back to keep another early US Open upset from hitting the men’s draw.

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So I changed all the dress that I started with today and it works.

The Italian fifth seed defeated Francisco Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a match lasting four hours and 12 minutes. It marked the first time Cobolli had recovered from a two-set deficit in his career. The French Open runner-up avoided joining fourth seed Novak Djokovic and 10th seed Arthur Fils among the tournament’s early men’s casualties. Top-ranked Jannik Sinner is already absent because of injury.

Cobolli said he took a bathroom break after the second set and decided to change his approach, including his clothes. “So I changed all the dress that I started with today and it works,” he said. “In grand slams it's never done. You have to fight until the last point.”

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In grand slams it's never done. You have to fight until the last point.

Ninth seed Taylor Fritz, the 2024 runner-up, advanced with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over 18-year-old American Darwin Blanch. Madison Keys also moved into the second round, beating 19-year-old Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4. Keys, the 2017 runner-up, lost in the first round at Flushing Meadows last year.

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It's always tough playing someone young and up-and-coming, and they're going after their shots.

Rain that began Monday night delayed matches on the outside courts and allowed play only at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, both of which have retractable roofs, for much of the day. Outdoor action began in mid-afternoon. Second seed Elena Rybakina was among those finally taking the court, while Coco Gauff, Alex Eala and first seed Alexander Zverev were scheduled to play later.

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And it's so hard to play a first round of a Grand Slam, so nervous and just wanting to do so well. So, really happy I was able to kind of fight through that and win today.