Cobolli defeats Auger-Aliassime, sets up all-Italian semi-final against Arnaldi
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Cobolli tops Auger-Aliassime, to meet Arnaldi in semifinals
Cobolli’s Path to the Semifinals
Flavio Cobolli secured a place in his first Grand Slam semifinal after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The match, played on a windy day inside Court Philippe-Chatrier, saw Cobolli overcome an initial deficit to advance. Following the first set, which Auger-Aliassime won, Cobolli briefly left the court to regain his composure, a move he later described as an effort to “think a bit, to change something.” He emphasized his determination, stating, “I just said to myself to fight, because I felt like this is the chance of my life and I have to give everything.” This victory ensures an Italian man will compete in the final.
Cobolli, who is 24 years old, has dropped only two sets across five matches leading up to this quarter-final. His performance included a strong showing with his forehand, which reportedly reached an average speed of approximately 90 mph. During the match, a moment of confusion arose when loud music was accidentally played over the stadium speakers during a crucial point in the third set. Despite this, Cobolli maintained his focus, eventually closing out the match with a forehand winner.
In the other quarter-final, Matteo Arnaldi advanced to the semifinals after Matteo Berrettini retired due to a left hip injury. Arnaldi was leading 7-5, 5-2 at the time of Berrettini’s withdrawal. Berrettini had received medical treatment earlier in the second set. The upcoming semifinal will be an all-Italian affair, with Cobolli facing Arnaldi on Friday, marking the first time in Grand Slam history that two Italian men will compete against each other in a semifinal.
Italian Tennis Flourishes
The success of Cobolli and Arnaldi highlights a strong period for Italian tennis. While top-ranked players like Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti were not in the draw this year due to injury for Musetti and an earlier exit for Sinner, the performances of Cobolli, Arnaldi, and Berrettini have brought significant attention. Cobolli, ranked 14th, Arnaldi, ranked 104th, and Berrettini, ranked 105th, were not initially considered the favourites to reach this stage of the tournament.
Cobolli’s background includes a past as a talented soccer player, having been a member of Roma’s youth club before dedicating himself fully to tennis. He recently had the opportunity to join Paris Saint-Germain players when they showcased the Champions League trophy on the tennis court. The Italian contingent is also seeing success in doubles, with Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori set to compete in the mixed doubles final, and Vavassori and Simone Bolelli reaching the semifinals in men’s doubles.
The last Italian man to win the French Open was Adriano Panatta in 1976, exactly 50 years ago. Panatta, who is scheduled to present the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy this year, shares a connection with Cobolli through the same tennis club in Rome, the Tennis Club Parioli.
Looking Ahead
Following his quarter-final victory, Cobolli expressed his excitement, calling it “the best week of my life.” He is set to enter the top 10 of the rankings for the first time next week, regardless of the outcome of his semifinal match. Cobolli also shared a superstitious routine he has maintained throughout the tournament, which includes visiting the same restaurant, ordering the same menu, and using the same shower in the locker room. He humorously recounted an encounter with Rafael Nadal, who told him that a particular shower had been his for 14 years.
The other semifinal will feature Alexander Zverev, the second seed, against Jakub Mensik, the 26th seed. For Auger-Aliassime, the defeat was a difficult one, as he described himself as “destroyed” by the loss, stating, “I’m in a place right now with my tennis career that it’s tough.” The all-Italian semifinal between Cobolli and Arnaldi is scheduled for Friday.
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