Why Flavio Cobolli is the heavy favorite against Francisco Comesana
Flavio Cobolli opens his 2026 U.S. Open first round against Francisco Comesana on Tuesday, Sept. 1, as the No. 5 seed and heavy betting favorite. The Italian arrives fresh from a French Open final, a Wimbledon quarterfinal, and a Cincinnati semifinal, holding a 1-0 head-to-head edge from Monte Carlo.
Round one action at the U.S. Open wraps on Day 3 with Cobolli among the biggest names on court. Reuters captured Comesana in action against the Italian at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Sept. 1, underscoring the spotlight on a clash between a surging Grand Slam contender and an Argentine who knows this tournament well.
Key Takeaways
- No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli faces Francisco Comesana in U.S. Open first-round action on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 11:00 a.m. ET on ESPN.
- Cobolli is a -461 moneyline favorite after reaching the French Open final and Cincinnati semifinals; Comesana is listed at +327.
- Cobolli won their only prior meeting 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 at ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo earlier in 2026.
- All three analysts at Last Word On Sports predict Cobolli advances in three or four sets.
- Comesana reached the U.S. Open third round in 2024 but enters 2026 with inconsistent hard-court results.
What happened in Cobolli vs. Comesana at the U.S. Open?
The pair met in the first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Sept. 1. According to a Reuters Connect photo caption, Argentina's Francisco Comesana was in action against Italy's Flavio Cobolli during that opening match.
Day 3 closes out men's round one at the year's final Grand Slam, with Cobolli among 20 men's singles matches scheduled. The Italian is looking to convert a career-best ranking and recent hard-court momentum into a deep New York run.
Why is Cobolli such a heavy favorite?
Cobolli's 2026 resume stands apart. He reached his first Grand Slam final at the French Open, made the Wimbledon quarterfinals, and followed with a Cincinnati Open semifinal appearance before arriving in New York. Sports Illustrated notes he is 9-3 in Grand Slam matches this year and 31-18 overall in 2026.
Comesana has U.S. Open experience, including a third-round run in 2024 and a second-round exit in 2025. Still, Sports Illustrated reports he is 7-14 overall in 2026 and carries a 12-19 career hard-court record across 31 matches. Cobolli, by contrast, is 13-9 on hard courts this season.
What do the odds and experts say?
DraftKings lists Cobolli at -461 on the moneyline and Comesana at +327, with the total set at 35.5 games. SI projects Cobolli wins in three or four sets and recommends the -1.5 set spread.
Last Word On Sports polled three tennis writers, and all backed Cobolli. Tope Oke warned a slow start could make Louis Armstrong Stadium tense, but still picked Cobolli in four. Yesh Ginsburg and Ilemona Onekutu both predicted straight-set wins for the Italian, citing his French Open final, Wimbledon quarterfinal, and Cincinnati semifinal form against Comesana's recent struggles.
How does this fit the U.S. Open picture?
Cobolli's first-round test matters because he is positioned as a legitimate title contender at a career-high seed. Comesana's familiarity with Flushing Meadows adds intrigue, but the form gap is wide heading into Tuesday's match.
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