A controversial scoring error played a pivotal role in Flavio Cobolli’s upset victory over three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the second round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday. The Italian, ranked 30th in the world, emerged victorious in a tight three-set battle, 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-3.
The turning point came in the second game of the third set. Umpire Carlos Bernardes incorrectly called the score after the second point, announcing that Cobolli, who was already leading 1-0, was up 30-0 on Wawrinka’s serve. The actual score should have been 15-15.
This oversight went unnoticed by both players and officials, allowing Cobolli to capitalize on the perceived advantage. He went on to win the next two points, securing a crucial break of serve. This proved to be the only break of serve in the third set, giving Cobolli a 2-0 lead that he would not relinquish. He then held his own serve to seal the victory against the 39-year-old wildcard entry.
The 22-year-old Cobolli now faces a formidable challenge in the third round. He will take on world number four Novak Djokovic on Tuesday. This match promises to be a captivating encounter as Cobolli aims to continue his impressive run in Shanghai.
