Flavio Cobolli arrived at the Tiriac Open presented by UniCredit Bank on an eight-match tour-level losing streak, keen to rediscover his form. The Italian did just that in a big way this week in Bucharest, where he surged to his first ATP Tour title.
ATPTour.com caught up with Cobolli to discuss the emotions of his victory, those who helped him to this point and much more.
Flavio, take us through your emotions here. You just won your first ATP title, it's a milestone event for your career.
Yes, it is a big, big thing. Big dream come true for me. Of course, I worked a lot in the past week and we changed something. We worked more than I always do. So I did, of course, something different for my tennis and the result came out soon. I was thinking, 'It's too soon', but better like this.
So for me, it's a big dream come true today. I always dreamed to win a trophy on the ATP Tour, and I did it, so I'm very proud of myself, very proud of the people I work with. It's a big dream today. Of course, I don't have time to celebrate this trophy, because I have to play in Monte-Carlo in two days.
So I have to think to recover and to have the best shape to play a good match there. But I'm really happy. Tonight, I will take the flight, and of course, we'll make a big dinner with all the team, and maybe I will eat one burger for the first day of the week. I'm happy, you can see.
Take us through the final today and how difficult it was to close out the match there with the seven match points.
I think it's normal to to have a little bit more pressure than a normal point. On the close points, when you play your second final, your first championship point ever, it's a little bit different. I was coming from a tough moment and of course, it's more tough than normal.
But I think I changed [on] the court on 5-4 with another mentality. I lost the first point, but then I won four points in a row with a good attitude and good bravery on the court. So I'm very happy about the last few points and the attitude for all the match today.
How did you manage to turn the season around, not winning a match in three months, and now you win four matches in a row, including a title?
Yes, I had an injury in the start of the season, so for me it was tough to play, to have motivation to play all the weeks. So it was tough, but I changed something, and now I have more confidence in my game. I have more respect [for] myself. So for me, it's easier to play the big moments, big matches also. I'm in the right way right now. I was not for the first three months. But now it's different.
Can you acknowledge some of the key people in your career, of course, your father and some other people who helped you to this success to win your first title?
There are a lot of people who work with me, but also my family. My mom, she always is at home to support me. She never sees a match because she has the pressure. My brother, he is, I think, the best person ever in this world, for me. He is a guy that is always with me, also in the tough moments. He gives me a hug also if the day is not easy, so I think he's the most important person of my life.
And then there is also my girlfriend. I am with her since when I was 17 or 18. So I was born with her in tennis. So she helped me every day. She's at home, she's studying, she's with me [for] everything. And then there is also my grandmother and grandfather. They also support me everywhere.
And also my friends. They accept my life, and they're also with me everywhere. So I want to say thank you to them. And of course, my team. I have a big team now, many people, but of course, everyone has their share and I'm very happy to work with them.
FLAVIO HAS DONE IT 🏆
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 6, 2025
The Italian completes a memorable week in Romania with his maiden ATP crown! 🙌#TiriacOpen | @cobollifla pic.twitter.com/9aqcZJgPps
Tell us about the tattoos. Maybe something now, when you won a title, or you have to think about it?
I don't know. I didn't think about it, but of course I'm crazy, you know. So maybe I'll wake up the next days, and I'll do something, but now I want to think about the next tournament.
