Flavio Cobolli: The Italian Underdog Ready to Challenge Djokovic at Wimbledon
As Flavio Cobolli prepares for the biggest match of his career against Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, the 22nd seed finds himself in an unusual position. For years, he has studied Djokovic’s matches as a fan—now, he must analyze them as an opponent.
From Djokovic Fan to Challenger
The 23-year-old Italian, who stunned former US Open champion Marin Cilic to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final, admits facing his idol on Centre Court will be surreal.
“I don’t know what I’ll do before the match—he’s my biggest idol,” Cobolli said. “I want to enjoy the crowd, have fun, and play every point with passion.”
Cobolli’s rise has been rapid. After winning his first ATP title in Bucharest earlier this year and following up with a victory in Hamburg, he arrived at Wimbledon with newfound confidence—despite once “hating grass” as a young footballer.
A Footballer Turned Tennis Star
Before tennis, Cobolli spent five years in AS Roma’s academy as a right-back. Though he switched to tennis at 14, his love for the club remains. A tattoo on his chest bears the words of Roma legend Daniele De Rossi: “You are my only wife, you are my only love.”
His footballing past still connects him to friends like Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori and Fiorentina’s Edoardo Bove, who collapsed during a match last year—an incident that left Cobolli in tears. Bove later surprised him by attending his Hamburg Open final victory over Andrey Rublev.
Family Tears and a Father’s Influence
After his fourth-round win, Cobolli sprinted to his emotional family in the stands, where his father and coach, Stefano Cobolli—a former player who once reached No. 238—broke down in tears.
“My dad is the emotional one,” Cobolli laughed. “When I lost as a kid, I’d be smiling again in 10 minutes. He’d stay angry for days!”
Djokovic’s Secret Scout: His Son
Even Djokovic has taken notice of Cobolli—with some help from his son, Stefan. The seven-time Wimbledon champion revealed his boy had hit with Cobolli and collected signatures from players (though not yet his father’s).
“I’ll ask my son what he noticed about Cobolli’s game,” Djokovic joked. “He’s a talented fighter, and we’ve practiced together. His results on grass have surprised me.”
The Ultimate Test
Cobolli has yet to drop a set at SW19, but Djokovic presents a monumental challenge. The Italian’s athleticism and creative shot-making have won over crowds, but dismantling the 24-time major champion will require perfection.
“I’ll look for any small weakness,” Cobolli said. “But mostly, I just want to savor this moment.”
As the underdog steps onto tennis’ grandest stage, one thing is certain: whether he wins or loses, Cobolli’s fearless attitude and infectious smile will leave a lasting impression.