Cobolli Topples Zverev, Will Face Shelton for Munich Title

By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, April 18, 2026
Photo credit: BMW Open Facebook

Flavio Cobolli turned Top 10 frustration to elation charging into his fifth final in Munich today.

The 23-year-old Cobolli toppled top-seeded Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to his fourth ATP 500-level final.

Though Cobolli carried an ignominious 1-16 record vs. Top 10 opponents onto court, he used his finishing forehand and speed around the court to control this semifinal and score his second career Top 10 win.

Cobolli out-aced Zverev seven to zero and converted four of five break points in a 69-minute triumph.

It is Cobolli’s first Top 5 win as he improves to 19-6 on clay since the start of 2025, including a nine-match winning streak on German clay after taking the 2025 Hamburg title.

World No. 16 Cobolli will play for his fourth title when he faces American Ben Shelton in tomorrow’s final.

In today’s second semifinal, Shelton won 27 of 37 first-serve point in a 6-3, 6-4 sweep of Slovak qualifier Alex Molcan.

Shelton saved the lone break point he faced reaching his seventh career final and improving to 16-5 on the season. Shelton will play for his fifth title and second of the season after out-dueling Taylor Fritz in a pulsating Dallas final.

No. 2-seeded Shelton is 3-2 lifetime against fourth-seeded Cobolli, including an epic 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1) win in the Toronto round of 16 last summer

Dallas champion Shelton and Acapulco champion Cobolli join No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz as the fourth men to reach finals on clay and hard courts this season.