Flavio Cobolli: Djokovic Inspiration, First ATP Titles and Rise Into Top 20
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
As part of Miami Living’s annual tennis interview series, we spoke with Flavio Cobolli, one of Italy’s rising talents on the ATP Tour, about his journey from Florence to the professional circuit, the influence of his father and childhood idol Novak Djokovic, and the mindset behind his recent breakthrough titles in Bucharest, Hamburg, and Acapulco. Now firmly established inside the Top 20, Cobolli reflects on his development, life on tour, and what continues to drive him as he competes on some of the sport’s biggest stages.
BY MARKIN ABRAS | PHOTOS FLAVIO COBOLLI/INSTAGRAM
Flavio Cobolli was born on May 6, 2002, in Florence, Italy, and turned professional in 2020 after developing through the Italian tennis system. Before focusing fully on tennis, he also played youth football with AS Roma, showing an early connection to competitive sport.
His development was closely tied to his family, especially his father Stefano Cobolli, a former player and coach. Reflecting on that influence, Cobolli says, "The decision to play tennis came naturally and independently, but of course having my father around the sport was a big inspiration. He taught me a lot, not only about tennis on the court but also about attitude and life off the court."
Growing up, he also looked up to Novak Djokovic, adding, "Growing up I always admired his competitiveness and his style of play. The way he fights for every point and never gives up is something that really inspired me. I always loved watching how complete his game is."
His early years on tour were built through Challenger events and gradual progress on the ATP Tour, leading him into the Top 100. During that stretch, he focused on improving specific parts of his game, noting, "I would say my serve. I’ve been working a lot on it and it has improved a lot over the past year."
Away from matches, he points to a lesser-seen side of the circuit, explaining, "People see us competing on court, but inside the locker room there’s almost a second life between players. Everyone is actually very different once you get to know them off the court." Managing the demands of constant travel is another challenge, and he says, "My routine. Having a routine helps me stay focused and balanced even when we travel a lot during the season."
In 2025, he secured his first ATP title at Romanian Open Bucharest, followed by a second title at Hamburg Open, an ATP 500 event, where he defeated Andrey Rublev in the final. Cobolli continued his progress in 2026 by winning the Mexican Open Acapulco, defeating Frances Tiafoe in the final to claim his first ATP hard-court title and move into the Top 20.
Speaking about Miami Open, he says, "Miami is amazing. It has incredible energy and great vibes. It’s a place that really inspires me and makes the whole tournament feel special." He also addresses the conditions, noting, "The most important thing is to stay well hydrated and manage your energy. I try to drink a lot and avoid staying too long under the sun before matches so I can keep fresh for the court." His best result at the Miami Open came in 2024, when he reached the second round.
Flavio Cobolli stats
Age: 23 (May 6, 2002) Birth Place: Florence, Italy Career High: No. 26 (2025) Singles Titles: 2 Miami Open Best: Second Round in 2024 Prize Money: US$5,391,145 Instagram: www.instagram.com/flavio_cobbo
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