Ben Shelton hits new career-high ranking of No. 5, just third lefty to be ranked in ATP Top 5 this century

It was a double breakthrough kind of day for rising Italian star Flavio Cobolli at Wimbledon on Monday, as he not only reached the first Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career, but in doing so also secured his Top 20 debut on the ATP rankings.

Already through to the fourth round of a Grand Slam event for the first time, the 23-year-old from Florence battled past 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), to one-up his personal best by one more round and reach his first final eight.

And with that, according to the ATP’s official live rankings, Cobolli guarantees himself of breaking into the Top 20 next Monday, rising from No. 24 to either No. 19 or No. 20, depending on other players’ results.

It’s been an incredible rise over the last few months, as he was ranked No. 45 at the beginning of April. But he rose from No. 45 to No. 36 on April 7th after winning the ATP 250 event in Bucharest, then from No. 35 to No. 26 on May 26th after winning the ATP 500 event in Hamburg.

Those were the first two ATP titles of his career.

And now, his first major quarterfinal will propel him into the Top 20.

Cobolli will become the third Italian man in the Top 20 next Monday, joining Top 10 players Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti.

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Cobolli, who was born in 2002, will become the seventh player born in 2002 or later to reach the ATP Top 20.

MEN BORN IN 2002 OR LATER TO REACH TOP 20:

Carlos Alcaraz [born in 2003, Top 20 debut in 2022]
Holger Rune [born in 2003, Top 20 debut in 2022]
Lorenzo Musetti [born in 2002, Top 20 debut in 2023]
Ben Shelton [born in 2002, Top 20 debut in 2023]
Arthur Fils [born in 2004, Top 20 debut in 2024]
Jakub Mensik [born in 2005, Top 20 debut in 2025]
Flavio Cobolli [born in 2002, Top 20 debut in 2025]

Alcaraz, Rune, Musetti and Shelton have all since cracked the Top 10, too, going as high as No. 1, No. 4, No. 6 and No. 10, respectively.

That was some finesse from Flavio Cobolli 😱

Our BetMGM shot of the day ⤵️#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/nuXXvgFLgq
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 7, 2025

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Cobolli was understandably emotional following his victory over Cilic on Monday.

“I mean, is something that I dream since when I was young, since when I start to play tennis,” he said. “Everyone on my family, on my team, told me every day that I born to play match like this because they saw me really cold, electric on the court. They always told me that I live for this kind of match.

“I think is true, because I really love to play against a big player, against a legend of our sport. I like to play on this kind of stage, this kind of tournament. I really love to play here in Wimbledon. I love to play on grass.

“Now I’m real emotional because this is the day that I never forget, for sure. I play really good match today. I’m very proud of myself, about my attitude on the court. I think I believe since the first point of the match to win today.

“Yeah, I am really, really happy.”

Awaiting the No. 22-seeded Cobolli in the quarterfinals will be another legend of the sport in No. 6-seeded Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion—and seven-time Wimbledon winner.

Djokovic won their only meeting in Shanghai last year, 6-1, 6-2.

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