Ben Shelton narrowly defeated Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (1) on Sunday in Toronto.
What happened?
The American tennis player confronted Cobolli after the match over a gesture the Italian made in the tiebreaker.
Ben Shelton asked if the gesture was directed at him.
Cobolli clarified it wasn’t about Shelton.
Why it matters for Ben Shelton
The exchange was tense, but they shared a handshake and cleared the air.
Ben Shelton and Cobolli are friends, which helped to diffuse the situation.
Cobolli said the gesture wasn’t about Shelton, and they talked about it in private.
Ben Shelton said they’re good and there’s no story.
What comes next?
Ben Shelton is set to face eighth-seeded Alex De Minaur in Tuesday’s quarterfinal.
He's currently ranked world No. 7.
The match against Cobolli was closely contested, with Shelton winning in three sets.
Ben Shelton and Cobolli spoke again in private after their post-match exchange.
They shook hands and put the incident behind them.
The focus now shifts to Shelton’s next match against De Minaur.
Ben Shelton will look to build on his win over Cobolli.
He's had a strong run in the tournament so far.
The quarterfinal match against De Minaur will be a tough test for Shelton.
The incident with Cobolli didn’t seem to faze Ben Shelton.
He's focused on his next match and the rest of the tournament.
Shelton’s win over Cobolli was an important one for his ranking and confidence.