Italian star Flavio Cobolli is stepping up for Team Europe in San Francisco, one year after he first donned the blue uniform as an alternate in Berlin. The ambitious 23-year-old wants nothing more than to contribute to the scoreboard as his side battles to secure a sixth Laver Cup title.
How it’s going
A remarkable run to the last eight at Wimbledon is the undisputed highlight of Cobolli’s season so far. The right-hander’s efforts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club marked his first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal, prompting tears of pride from his father and coach, Stefano, who reached a career-high of No. 236 in 2003, a year after his son was born.
Cobolli captured the first two titles of his burgeoning career in Bucharest and Hamburg, both clay-court events, and hit a career-high ranking of 17 in May. “I’m very proud of my season,” he said during the US Open, before a right arm injury forced him to retire from his third-round match against countryman Lorenzo Musetti.
Florence-born Cobolli believes his aggressive style translates well on all three surfaces. “My game is real easy: stay close to line and play [there],” he said at Wimbledon. Cobolli said he aims to be positive whenever he has a racquet in his hand, and has encouraged juniors and upcoming players to have fun whenever they’re on court. “Practice with a smile is different [to] when you practice without,” he said at Wimbledon.
The appeal of Laver Cup
Cobolli, who cherished his experience on the bench at Laver Cup Berlin 2024, is delighted to step off the sidelines this year.
“I can play this time,” he enthused. “I’m really excited … I really love all of the guys [from] Team Europe.
“I learned a lot of things there, from the top players … I watched how they work, how they played, especially on the important points,” he said. While he’s looking forward to being on the receiving end of their support this year, he’s also aiming to continue learning from his experienced rivals-turned-teammates as part of his continued evolution as a player. Cobolli played soccer in his youth before prioritizing tennis, and recognizes the different dynamics between competing for a team rather than oneself.
“Whenever I have the opportunity to play [in a] team competition, I always go,” he said. The 23-year-old revealed that he’s able to handle pressure well, which enables him to compete at his highest level regardless of the occasion. “I think I’m born with this thing in my blood,” Cobolli joked.
Looking ahead to San Francisco
If Cobolli, a 2020 Roland Garros junior boys’ doubles champion, earns the call-up to play doubles at Laver Cup, one of many potential partners is Norway’s Casper Ruud. “I really respect him,” said Cobolli, who took a set off Ruud in the pair’s only battle to date. “He’s a top player, so I can learn everything from him because he played on the biggest stages of our sport.”
And if given the opportunity to vie for singles points, the Italian is keen to face off against Team World’s João Fonseca. Cobolli owns a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over the Brazilian, who he edged in a 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-6(8) thriller in Halle in June. “We are young, I think we have all the career in front of us,” he said, anticipating many more clashes against his talented rival.
At San Francisco’s Chase Center, Cobolli is prepared to serve under Team Europe’s new Captain Yannick Noah, who he described as “a legend of our sport.” The Italian pledged to compete wholeheartedly for the men in blue, also gaining insight from Vice Captain Tim Henman. “I’m the guy that always fights every moment in the match so I can give everything to the team,” he said, vowing to bring “heart.”
The Italian promised to provide encouragement to his Laver Cup comrades in every way possible. “I support everyone when they play, I’m also a good teammate,” Cobolli said.