Fiavio Cobolli called for a handful of sweets on court to fuel his 2-6,6-3, 6-4 fightback win over Tommy Paul which put the Italian into the semi-finals on Thursday of the Cincinnati Masters.

The M&M candies brought to the court were just the trick for Cobolli, the Roland Garros finalist. The hack seemed to mimic the shot of espresso often taken on the player bench at key moments by Italian compatriot Luciano Darderi.

“A sweet with chocolate makes me happy,” Cobolli said. “I’ve tried it in doubles so why not singles.”

Cobolli eliminated one of four US players in the quarter-final field with his comeback victory. He overcame Paul after the American fought through five deuces and saved four break points late in the deciding set.

Paul came to the match having defeated top seed Alexander Zverev, saving a match point along the way.

“It was a difficult day,” Cobolli said. “I’m proud of my effort, my game and my mental strength. It is all good practice for the US Open.

“My shape is 100 percent. I may play gold tomorrow on a day off to relax but I will be ready to fight again.”

Main photo:- Flavio Cobolli celebrates – ATPTour.com

Alexander Zverev wanted a match point and lost a late lead as the top seed crashed out of the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 to American Tommy Paul in the fourth round.

Roland Garros winner had a win in hand leading 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker but was unable to convert.

He broke for a 4-2 lead in the third set only to lose serve twice more as the newly married Paul served into the quarter-finals to wrap up a contest interrupted for 90 minutes by rain and required two more short pauses to wipe down wet lines on the court.

“I’m not sure how I did it,” Paul said. “I put some returns in, he gave me some looks at second serves and he threw in a few doubles (faults). That always helps a ton.

“I went after the ball a bit more, I was having fun out there. I hope I can keep building on this and peak at the US Open.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev-paul-cincinnati-2026-wednesday

Paul lines up against the man Zverev beat in the French Open final two months ago, Flavio Cobolli.

The Italian needed two and a half hours to see off keen Spanish teen Rafael Jodar 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3, marking third win for Cobolli in that series of three-setters.

Cobolli will play his second Masters quarter-final of 2026 after Madrid in the spring.

“At the end of the second set and start of the third I told myself to believe, try on every point,” Cobolli said. “I knew I had a chance.

“Rafa has had an unbelievable season but maybe he was a bit tired. At the end I deserved to win as I was fresher than him.  

“I pushed to my limit to get through. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m really strong.”

There was a surprise win for Thiago Tirante, who upset Novak Djokovic in the second round. The Argentine advanced over Jakub Mensik 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 into his first Masters quarter-final.

Australian Alex de Minaur was no match for Frenchman Arthur Fils, who cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the fifth seed.

Main photo:- Tommy Paul beating top seed Alexander Zverev in Cincy – by Cincinnati Open

Following his ITIA drugs ban Nick Kyrgios posted on social media “I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it”

“I‘m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me”

“Above all I’m sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I’m deeply disappointed in myself”

“I’m not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I’ve been.

The last couple of years  of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally .

My body  hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined”

“I’ve always said I didn’t choose tennis – tennis chose me. But letting go  of something that has been my whole life is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face”

“At times I’ve felt  helpless and alone. None of that excuses what I did”

However the good news is that this has given me a wake up call.

For the next  28 daysI’ll be stepping away from social media and public life while I focus on getting myself right.

“I’d ask that people respect my privacy during that time and most importantly the privacy of my family”

“I’m sorry. I’ll do the work and come back better”

Kyrgios was tested during the ATP 250 event in Mallorca on 22 June, one of only three ATP events Kyrigos plaved in 2026, losing 3-6, 4-6  in the first round to fellow Aussie Adam Walton.

The ITIA confirmed that his suspension commenced on 4 August, and he is entitled to, but hasn’t as yet, submitted an appeal.

The substance, benzoylecgonine, a known metabolite of cocaine, is on the WADA prohibited list and is banned in competition under the  Tennis Anti-doping Programme.

“If taken out of competition reduced sanctions apply for substance abuse.

Because of the nature of the substance, a provisional suspension is mandatory.

Kyrgios reached the final of Wimbledon 2022, his most successful season, losing to Novak Djokovic the top seed  4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7  before reaching the quarter final in that year’s US Open.

Kyrgios  also won his maiden Grand Slam doubles with compatriot Thanasi Kokkianakis at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Unfortunately he had to miss his home Grand Slam in Melbourne 2023 due to serious  knee injury, only returning in June that year in the ATP Tour event in Stuttgart.

He then tore his wrist ligaments  which required surgery  keeping him out of action for a further 18 months.

During the Mallorca event, where he was tested by WADA he suffered severe pain in his wrist  telling fellow pro Alexander Bublik that he had suffered pain in the same wrist during the Australian Open, before it “just collapsed completely “ after he hit a forehand.

Kyrgios has only played occasionally since, suffering  more wrist and shoulder issues.