Flavio Cobolli Celebrates Breakthrough Win at Roland Garros

PARIS, France — Flavio Cobolli, a 23-year-old Italian tennis player, is drawing attention after winning the biggest title of his young career. Before the French Open, Cobolli triumphed over former world No. 5 Andrey Rublev in straight sets at the Hamburg Open, an ATP 500 event. This victory has boosted his profile just ahead of his match against lucky loser Marin Čilić, the 2014 U.S. Open champion.

Cobolli expressed mixed emotions about his recent win. In an interview at Roland Garros, he said, “I felt a bit confused” about transitioning from one tournament to another so quickly. However, he admitted he appreciates the newfound attention, saying, “It’s a little strange for me because I never had it.”

Clay is Cobolli’s preferred surface. In April 2025, he secured his first ATP Tour title at the Romanian Open, a surprising win that followed an eight-match losing streak. His latest title came after disappointing performances at the Italian Open and a Challenger tournament in Turin.

Reflecting on his development, Cobolli credits his progress to training with friend Carlos Alcaraz in Spain. The two first met on the junior circuit, where Cobolli once bested Alcaraz in doubles. Alcaraz commented positively on Cobolli’s recent performance, stating, “He has the level to be there, really,” while also acknowledging his own struggles with shot selection.

Cobolli has faced top competitors like Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic but has yet to compete against fellow Italian Jannik Sinner. Notably, Cobolli once played as a right-back for Roma’s youth academy before choosing tennis at age 14, a decision he doesn’t regret. He remarked, “Every match, I think, ‘I can do better than him.’”

His connection to Roma runs deep; he once celebrated winning the boys’ doubles at the French Open in 2020 with a Roma scarf, and he even has a tattoo featuring a quote from club legend Daniele De Rossi. Despite the shift to tennis, Cobolli maintains his passion for football, often reminiscing about his days in soccer.

In addition to football, Cobolli enjoys playing football tennis with fellow ATP players, including Alcaraz and Sebastian Korda. He values the individual nature of tennis, preferring to achieve success through personal performance, stating, “I don’t like to play with a team. I want to win because of me.”

Cobolli’s recent achievements and dedication suggest a bright future ahead as he continues his journey through the world of professional tennis.