match report
Koboli bounces back in Almaty
Michelson, Shinichi Mochizuki, Straff advance to ATP 250
October 15, 2025
ANDREY UDARTSEV/Almaty Open
According to the Infosys ATP Win-Loss Index, Flavio Coboli has a record of 29-23 this season.
Sam Jacott
Third seed Flavio Coboli made his Almaty Open debut on Wednesday, beating Lynch Hijikata 6-4, 7-5 to end his brief losing streak on tour.
After defeating Andrei Rublev in Beijing, the Italian suffered successive losses, losing to Learner Tien at the ATP 500 and then to Jaume Munar in Shanghai. However, against Hijikata, he hit 21 winners and made only seven unforced errors, advancing to the quarter-finals after 79 minutes.
Coboli has had a great year, winning titles in Hamburg and Bucharest. The 23-year-old is currently ranked 22nd in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, but will return to the top 20 after winning in Almaty, where he will next face James Duckworth.
Australian qualifier Duckworth defeated seventh seed and last year’s finalist Gabriel Diallo 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-4 for his biggest win of the season. The world No. 138 faced no break points in her win, according to Infosys ATP Statistics.
Previously, Shintaro Mochizuki defeated Arthur Kazoko 6-4, 6-4 to win his third tour-level victory this season. The 22-year-old has moved up three spots to No. 99 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is on track to crack the top 100 for the first time. He will next face fourth seed Luciano Dadri.
Alex Michelson ends a five-game losing streak and advances to the second round. The American, who has not won a match since Cincinnati in August, defeated Bebit Zhukaev 6-2, 6-3 and will next face Alexander Vukic.
“I’m happy with my level,” Michelson said. “He is a dangerous player with a strong serve. I am very happy to win and very happy to be here in Almaty for the first time.”
Jan-Lennard Struff also advanced, defeating Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. The German hit 25 winners in the Lexus ATP series against the United States to improve to 2-0. Straf will next face top seed and defending champion Karen Khachanov. French player Corentin Moutet eliminated home favorite Alexander Shevchenko 7-5, 6-3. Mutai reached the semifinals in Hangzhou last month.
