Ben Shelton created a buzz at the 2025 Canadian Open not only for his hard-fought victory but also for his refusal to discuss a heated exchange with opponent Flavio Cobolli after the match.
Although the American acknowledged a private conversation, he made it clear he would not elaborate further.
Ben Shelton Refuses To Address The Heated Argument With Flavio Cobolli During Press Conference
Following his fourth-round win against Flavio Cobolli in Toronto, Ben Shelton faced questions in the post-match press conference regarding a verbal incident involving the two players. When asked directly about the matter, Shelton kept his response short and focused on resolving the issue privately.
He explained that he and Cobolli had already spoken in the locker room after the match. “Yeah, we talked about it. He said it wasn’t towards me. We’re good. We talked about it in the locker room, so I’m not going to answer any more questions about that. There’s no story, we’re good, that’s it, so, thanks,” Shelton told the reporters.
The players were involved in a prolonged verbal spat after the match, with Shelton accusing Cobolli of an unsavory gesture toward him during the tense tiebreak. The American seemed bothered by the incident, as he considered Cobolli to be his friend.
“If you do say something, then I’m going to say something because we’re friends, no?” he appeared to say during the argument.
The American’s refusal to expand on the situation to the press reflected a preference for keeping locker room discussions out of the public eye. He provided no further information beyond stating that the discussion had occurred and the matter was settled.
Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli continued their tense exchange well after the match ended 👀#NBO25 | @NBOtoronto pic.twitter.com/NlgVBm3OQ4
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 4, 2025
Cobolli has offered no official statement on the incident yet, and tournament officials did not issue further comments.
The Heated Round of 16 Match Between Shelton and Cobolli
Shelton and Cobolli competed in a close and competitive match in the fourth round of the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto. Shelton secured the first set 6-4, breaking Cobolli’s serve twice. Cobolli adjusted his game in the second set and won it 6-4, converting three break points and putting pressure on Shelton.
In the final set, both players traded breaks before Cobolli served for the match at 5-4. Shelton managed to break back, forcing a tiebreak, where he controlled play and won 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1).
Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli had an exchange after the match in Toronto
👀pic.twitter.com/uSSKhjXtIM
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 4, 2025
During the match, Shelton hit 12 aces and won 71% of points on his first serve, while Cobolli delivered 8 aces and won 76% of his first serve points. The pair were close in total points won, with Shelton leading 108–105.
Cobolli saved six out of nine break points but was unable to overcome Shelton in the closing games. The match was intense and featured key moments, including the incident after the contest concluded.
However, both players completed the match without official penalties, and Shelton advanced to the quarterfinal round, where he is scheduled to face Alex de Minaur.
