Flavio Cobolli edges past Frances Tiafoe to win Mexican Open title and climb into top 15 for first time

A new career high is set in stone for Flavio Cobolli after he took down Frances Tiafoe 7-6(4), 6-4 to triumph at the Mexican Open to win his maiden hardcourt title.

After his dreadful start to the campaign, it has been a welcomed turnaround for Italy's Davis Cup hero, who ended 2025 on top of the world. He was at first unable to convert that success instantly into more progress on the court with the 23-year-old struggling to even pick up wins let alone go deep in tournaments.

After winning his first United Cup match, he would go on to lose four matches in a row, not tasting victory until the Delray Beach Open where he reached the semifinals. He went one better in Acapulco with the aim of a third ATP title and second ATP 500 title.

It would not be easy with Tiafoe a tricky customer on his day. The American skipped the final part of the 2025 campaign to reset and go again in 2026 with a new mindset, and the results are looking more positive for the American now. The two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist boasts a dreadful record when reaching finals, winning just three of the 11 finals reached in his time, including the one in Mexico. It is his third ATP 500 final defeat and another painful pill to swallow.

At the end of the day, Cobolli slightly edged it on court. He won 79% of first serve points which would prove to be crucial in a match with very few breaks. On that topic both players saved 66% of break points faced although Tiafoe faced three more than his opponent. They won the same amount of server points but Coblli's 33 receiver points won compared to Tiafoe's 21 is a stark difference and is a reason for Cobolli winning for the first time against Tiafoe.

The first set took 70 minutes in total and saw just two break point opportunity, clinically averted by Tiafoe. One of which was a set point at 5-4, something that Cobolli was not wanting to regret later down the line.

It seemed a tiebreak was inevitable, and that was the case with Tiafoe racing into a very slender 3-2 advantage. Cobolli would then turn on the afterburners and sink any hopes that his opponent had of storming out in front. He got back level at 3-3 before winning the final four points to win the tiebreak 7-4 and sneaking out to take a huge step towards the title.

In the fifth game of the second set, those title ambitions were starting to become more visible with Cobolli breaking the serve of Tiafoe to move 3-2 ahead. He backed that up with a hold before squandering two more break points that would have seen him take a double break advantage.

Instead, Tiafoe broke back to move the match back on serve and give himself a fleeting chance of success. This was flushed away instantly as Cobolli launched himself back ahead before on serve taking his second match point for a first title in 2026.

“When I was a kid, I was dreaming for this moment,” Cobolli said after the match. “For this kind of tournament, playing on the center court with people cheering for me. I’m very proud, not only for me, but also for the people that work for me — my dad, my family, the rest of my team. They will help me a lot.”

It is now three final wins in a row and a first away from clay. After a horrific start to 2026, things are looking very much up for Cobolli who will find himself in a career high world number 15 after gaining 470 points in Mexico this week.

“I think I deserve it for how I work outside the court,” Cobolli commented. “After the losses, I work again on court and I just want to say that I’m very proud of myself. It was a great match today, I think it was the best of the tournament for me. I never won against [Frances] before today, so I’m very happy.”

There is no rest for the finalists, however, with both players now setting their sights on a deep run in the brace of Masters 1000 tournaments on the horizon. First the Indian Wells Open which will take place from March 4-15, closely followed by the Miami Open just after.