Flavio Cobolli, interview with his father-coach: “Positive signs at Wimbledon, ATP Finals an objective”

How did you experience the period after Roland Garros?

“Flavio took a few days off and then went to Halle, where he had an excellent week of training. In doubles he played well, while in singles he immediately found Tiafoe, who then won the tournament. At that moment he wasn’t yet ready to face an opponent of that level, but the week served him to better prepare for Wimbledon. A Slam final leaves something in terms of awareness and mental strength, it’s inevitable. The important thing is not to lose balance. A result like this comes from the work done in the previous months and the ability to manage every day of the tournament. In Paris Flavio did it very well. We hope he will soon have another opportunity to play in a final like this, these are games that teach us a lot.”

Is there any regret about how it ended?

“No. It’s normal that, when you get to the fifth set of a Slam final, you start to really believe you can win. At the end of the fourth set he felt some discomfort in his leg and went back to the locker room to understand the situation. That episode affected him in the decisive moment. At the beginning of the fifth set the intensity dropped and he got nervous, because he felt he was no longer at one hundred percent, he saw a great opportunity disappearing. But in such long matches it can happen. In any case, credit must also be given of the opponent. Zverev played a good match.”

A phrase from Flavio after the final was striking: “Paris was special, but it doesn’t mean that I will now go to Wimbledon to make another final”. Are you proud of this mentality?

“Very much. If you are not a phenomenon destined to dominate right away, like Sinner or Alcaraz, or as Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were, staying with your feet on the ground is fundamental. Today, between number 3 and number 40 in the world, the distance is small. If you lose your hunger and think that certain results are achieved, you take risks. Flavio faces all the tournaments knowing that he has to conquer every match, from the first round. It is a mentality that will allow him to continue to grow while respecting every opponent, regardless of the rankings.”

Will entering the top ten change the season’s schedule?

“There will be some adjustments, but nothing revolutionary. It’s a gradual process, a bit like moving a boat forward. First we’ll need to consolidate this ranking, then we’ll build the calendar accordingly. Nothing will change for the next two or three months. Later on, however, he’ll play a few fewer tournaments to better prepare for the most important events. Today it’s the Slams and the Masters 1000 that really make the difference. Doing well there allows you to remain stable in the positions that count.”

Last year he told us about the music he used in training to give him a boost. Have you found another idea this year?

“No, with Flavio you have to constantly change stimuli.” And he smiles. “In that period the music worked because it was difficult for him to listen to me. Today he has grown in many aspects and the challenge is to find the right balance between my role as coach and that of father.”

Are the ATP Finals a dream?

“No, I’m a target. We told ourselves this after Acapulco, when he was eighth in the race: ‘Flavio, we can try. Why not believe it?’. Even the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year seemed unthinkable, as did winning Davis as a protagonist. Then other important results arrived and today he is fourth in the race. There is still a lot of work to do, but we are on the right path.”

Meanwhile, the call-up for the Laver Cup has also arrived.

“It’s another important signal and we care a lot about it. Now, however, we need to continue working to grow and improve.” (Of Michele Antonelli)