Flavio Cobolli got his Italian Open campaign off to a perfect start yesterday, beating Terence Atmane in straight sets.
This is an event where the 24-year-old will be desperate to succeed, and there’s cause for optimism that he could shine here and at Roland Garros afterwards too.
Alas, if he is to win either title, it will take a monumental effort to bypass his compatriot Jannik Sinner.
These two Italians unsurprisingly share a great relationship with one another, keen to push each other on to greater things.
And, after yesterday’s win over Atmane, Flavio Cobolli actually credited Sinner for helping inspire him to victory.
Flavio Cobolli credits Jannik Sinner for his latest win
Speaking on court to Sky Sports Italy, he was asked whether his training session with Sinner before the Italian Open had helped better prepare him for this event.
He laughed as he admitted: “I had to get a massage again after training with him.”
When does Jannik Sinner next lose a tennis match? 👀
Cobolli then added: “He always pushes us to the limit, he always pushes us to find new things to perform at our best, and that’s motivating, right?
“Playing with him before the tournament means a lot to me because it gives me that energy and intensity that no one else has, and that’s why maybe today went so well too.”
Novak Djokovic has backed Sinner to win the Italian Open, and whilst it’s hard to disagree with him, Cobolli will surely have aspirations of upsetting that narrative.
Why Flavio Cobolli could be a dark horse at Roland Garros this year
Cobolli is a rock-solid player who routinely performs admirably at the sport’s best events. However, he is yet to really have an outstanding breakthrough at a Grand Slam.
Last year’s run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals represented an admirable showing, but there is cause for optimism that he could better that performance at this year’s Roland Garros.
After all, apart from Sinner, there are not really many other candidates who are inspiring great excitement ahead of the second Grand Slam of the season.
And, with Carlos Alcaraz ruled out through injury, there is further cause to believe that a less experienced player could shine.
Cobolli has enjoyed a strong clay-court season thus far, and is trending in the right direction at the French Open, reaching a round further than he did the previous year every time he has played the event.
If tennis were creating a fifth Grand Slam title, where would you want it held? 🌏
Having reached the final in Munich and the quarter-final in Madrid, the Italian is in excellent form too.
Few will expect much from him, and that could make him a dangerous prospect.
