From coming through the academy at Roma to his best run at a Grand Slam - Cobolli prepares for a Wimbledon quarter-final against idol Novak Djokovic.
Wimbledon 2025
Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England Club
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Every day Flavio Cobolli watches videos of his idol Novak Djokovic.
He is looking for tips, nuggets of information and small details that might just give him an advantage over his opponent.
But the Italian 22nd seed will now be analysing Djokovic's footage for another reason - looking for tiny cracks in his game that can be exploited when he faces him in the quarter-final on Wimbledon's Centre Court on Wednesday, the biggest match of his career.
Cobolli beat veteran Marin Cilic in the fourth round to set up a meeting with 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.
"I will be on one of the biggest stages in the world, this is the best court in the world," he said.
"I don't know what I'll do before the match because he's my biggest idol. I want to enjoy the match, the crowd, I want to have fun every point I play with him."
Roma's academy and 'hating grass'
For Cobolli, it was not always going to be tennis.
As a child he spent five years in the academies of his beloved football club Roma, where he played as a right-back.
Aged 14 he decided that was not for him and chose tennis, preferring the solo nature of the sport.
But his love for Roma remains. He attends matches when he can and still prefers to watch football over tennis on TV.
He has a tattoo on his chest with the words 'sei tu l'unica mia sposa, sei tu l'unico mio amor' which translates as 'you are my only wife, you are my only love' - a famous quote from club legend Daniele de Rossi.
Many of his good friends include the players he came through the academy with - Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori and Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove, who collapsed on the pitch during a Serie A match last year.
Cobolli was at that match and immediately broke down in tears when the incident occurred.
Bove has since surprised Cobolli by attending the final of the Hamburg Open earlier this year, where Cobolli beat Andrey Rublev in straight sets to win the title.
But Cobolli has not given up football altogether - he plays foot tennis with others on the ATP Tour, such as Carlos Alcaraz, and he also plays padel with his friends from Roma.
It is somewhat ironic that as a footballer Cobolli "hated playing on grass" as a junior.
But his run at the All England Club - his best at a Grand Slam - has seen him grow in confidence on the surface.
After his fourth-round win on Monday, Cobolli immediately ran to his family to hug them and celebrate while his father - who is also his coach - stood in floods of tears.
Stefano Cobolli was a tennis player himself and peaked at 238 in the rankings while he also played in the Wimbledon qualifiers in 2004.
Stefano admits that he is the emotional one in the partnership, while Cobolli is "always smiling", just like he was as a child.
"When I lost the match I cried or stayed angry for days," he said.
"After 10 minutes he's [Cobolli] smiling again. That's the real character of Flavio."
Djokovic asks son for key to unlocking Cobolli
Those who have followed Cobolli's rise over the past 12 months will not be surprised to see him making a maiden appearance in the last eight of a Grand Slam.
He won his first ATP Tour title this year in Romania and followed that up with victory in Hamburg.
Until facing Cilic, he had not dropped a set at SW19 and has secured comprehensive victories in all four of his matches.
But against Djokovic the challenge is far more daunting. And the 24-time Grand Slam champion has been doing some analysing of his own.
The 36-year-old said his son has been asking players at the All England Club to sign his hat and even managed to hit with Cobolli.
"They hit a few days ago. They played some points," said Djokovic.
"He's over the moon. Obviously, he loves tennis. He has everyone's signature, except mine. But that's okay, I'll accept that.
"I'll have a conversation with my son and see what he has noticed in the game of Cobolli."
On the court, Cobolli's varied shot selection and athletic movement has entertained the Wimbledon crowds.
But Djokovic said he has been surprised to see Cobolli's results on grass, with his game not necessarily suited to the surface.
"He's a very talented player," he said.
"One of the youngsters coming up. He's a big fighter. We get along well. We practise whenever we can.
"Let the better player win. What can I say?"
Category: General Sports
