Cobolli Rewinds to His Breakthrough Joy
Flavio Cobolli still hits play on that 2024 Australian Open upset, chasing the unbridled happiness that launched him toward the top ranks as he gears up for United Cup battles.
Two years can flip a tennis career upside down, and Flavio Cobolli testifies to that truth. He showed up at the 2024 Australian Open as World No. 100, an under-the-radar Italian gunning for his first main draw spot at a major. Through gritty qualifiers in Melbourne Park, he punched his ticket, then outlasted Nicolas Jarry in a five-set thriller—his initial Grand Slam win, a memory he loops back to for that pure court thrill.
Now World No. 22 and a two-time ATP champion, he preps in Perth for the United Cup, where Australian hardcourts test his evolved game. The shift from anonymous qualifier to Top 30 mainstay feels worlds away, yet he clings to the wide-eyed energy of that Jarry clash. Heavy topspin forehands pulled Jarry off the baseline, inside-out winners snaked past his reach, turning crowd support against the Chilean into fuel for Cobolli’s quiet determination.
“When I have time, I watch that match,” Cobolli told ATPTour.com in Perth. “I played great tennis in qualies, but I was new on the Tour. I played against Nico [Jarry] and there was a big crowd for him, not for me. It was tight. No one knew me there and I played like a new guy on the Tour, but when I remember that moment, I remember a guy that was happy on the court. Like I am now. So I’m trying to keep this feeling in the ‘new’ part of my career also.”
Embracing joy amid rising pressure
This ‘new’ chapter has Cobolli locked in the Top 30, with a three-week Top 20 peek after his first major quarterfinal at Wimbledon last summer. Footage from Melbourne shows a kid scrambling on returns, joy overriding the isolation of an unknown facing a seeded power player. Today, that happiness anchors him against the mental weight of expectations, his game sharper but the core thrill intact.
“It was only two years ago, but I feel I am now on the Tour like I wanted,” he said, linking that past rush to his current drive. The psychological bridge keeps him grounded— from qualifier’s gamble to consistent contender, each step demands recapturing that unfiltered court presence. In Perth’s team setting, it sharpens his focus for the season ahead.
Overcoming 2025’s rocky start
Cobolli’s 2025 tallied a 34-27 record, a solid haul after early United Cup wins gave way to a 2-8 tour-level skid by late March, injuries disrupting his heavy topspin rhythm on varied surfaces. Clay turned the tide with titles in Bucharest and Hamburg, where his 1–2 patterns—deep crosscourt backhands into forehand attacks—ground out points in long rallies. That resurgence pushed him past career hurdles, rebuilding form for a stronger launch this year.
“I know that 2025 was a great year, but it didn’t start how I wanted because [after the United Cup] I didn’t win a match until the first title in Bucharest,” he noted. Leading Team Italy with Jasmine Paolini, he aims to avoid last winter’s pitfalls, the group’s energy amplifying his readiness. Practice sessions in Perth have him primed, the hardcourt bounce suiting his adjusted returns against big serves.
Proof that Flavio’s brother is Team Italy’s designated hype man 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/L0fkpUlbIF
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 29, 2025
December 29, 2025, captured the team vibe, with family adding that extra spark to Italy’s bid.
Targeting top-10 with refined edges
Offseason work zeroed in on returns, serves, and volleys—key upgrades for facing elite servers on fast courts. At 23, Cobolli boosted his return depth to chip Jarry-like bombs, turning them into neutral baseline exchanges rather than defensive scrambles. Serve placement now varies with down-the-line kicks and body targets, setting up aggressive inside-in forehands, while volley drills emphasize clean finishes over hesitant punches.
“We worked a lot on the return, because we haven’t worked a lot on it as my return has always been very good,” the 23-year-old explained. “But with this level, with these guys that serve as they do, it’s a thing you have to improve a lot. Also my serve and my volley game. These are the three things that I worked on a lot. The percentage of my serve [will be important] for sure, and my game when I attack. My volley is not the best shot that I have. The way I finish volleys is going to be a goal for this year.”
Stable in the Top 30, he plans fewer events, chasing deep runs at majors and Masters 1000s to climb from No. 17 toward the Top 10. His United Cup opener against Stan Wawrinka in Perth will probe these tweaks—Wawrinka’s slice backhands and one-handed drives demand precise footwork and varied depths. “The goal for this year is to improve and to play a little bit less than last year for sure,” he said. “To be part of the big stages as much as I can. The dream is to be Top 10, but it’s tough and I know there are many players that are working for that also. So it’s going to be a great year.” As RAC Arena fills on January 3, 2026, Cobolli blends that Melbourne spark with tactical polish, poised to push his boundaries in the year’s first roar.
