ROME/WASHINGTON, May 11, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
It’s never been easy for an Italian man to win the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, but it’s never been for a lack of heart.
Whether it’s because of the immense pressure from the raucous Roman crowds, the intense physical demands presented by the slow clay-court conditions at Foro Italico, or merely the presence of high-quality, top-tier ATP stars on clay like Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev or Novak Djokovic, who each have won the Italian Masters title in recent years, it’s been 50 years since an Italian man lifted the champion’s trophy in Rome.
The last Italian male to win Rome was Adriano Panatta, back in 1976 – long before the current generation of Italian players were born. More like when their parents were kids.
Of the five remaining Italians in the men’s draw, which includes No. 18 seed Luciano Darderi and 155th-ranked qualifier Andrea Pellegrino, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is the clear-cut favorite to win his fifth-consecutive ATP Masters 1000 event this year and sixth-straight dating back to Paris last October. He would be a worthy successor to Panatta. So, too, would Lorenzo Musetti, the passionate Italian No. 2, who is currently ranked No. 10 in the world.
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However, a sentimental dark horse among the Italians is none other than World No. 12 Flavio Cobolli. The Florentine native, who just turned 24 last week, wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s proud, witty, ruggedly handsome and deeply connected to Italy’s rising tennis fortunes. The Italian No. 3, Cobolli helped guide Italy to the 2025 Davis Cup championship by winning all three of his No. 1 singles matches at the Davis Cup Finals.
The 10th-seeded Cobolli, who advanced to Monday’s third round with a 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory over 51st-ranked French lefty Terence Atmane on Saturday evening, has shown to be a tenacious, aggressive baseline player. As a former top-level youth football player, he brings a fighter mentality to the tennis court.
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Cobolli developed game under father’s guidance
Cobolli’s game, which has been developed under the guidance and tutelage of his father and coach, Stefano Cobolli, is characterized by powerful groundstrokes and excellent movement as well as a high-intensity game.
Earlier this month, the younger Cobolli reached a career-best ranking of World No. 12 and is 9-3 on clay so far this season. He was a recent finalist in Munich and also reached the quarterfinals of an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time in Madrid. Overall, Cobolli has gone 18-10 this season and won an ATP 250 hard-court title at Acapulco in February.
After winning his opening-round match against Atmane on the second-largest show court, BNP Paribas Arena, Saturday evening, Cobolli was quoted by Roman media (translated from Italian) as saying: “Before the match, they just told me to have fun. I started nervous. Here it’s like it’s always the first time.
“I think I did my best. I’m very happy.”
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A year ago, Cobolli, then ranked No. 34, lost his first-round match to 95th-ranked fellow Italian Luca Nardi, which was a difficult defeat to accept and one that nearly had him in tears.
“Every time I go back [to Rome] it’s a new experience but also very significant,” said Cobolli, a fan of Italian football team AS Roma who bleeds carmine red and golden yellow, the team’s colors. Despite being born in Florence, he has always considered Rome his home. “Because for me, it’s like it’s always the first time. When I took the court [against Atmane] I was as nervous as last year. But with the matches I played last year and this year on the big stages, I had help to manage it better.
“I hope to get as far as possible in this tournament.”
Biggest dream is to play on Pietrangeli
While Cobolli will be featured against 69th-ranked Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina Monday evening on 10,500-seat Campo Centrale, the largest show court at Foro Italico, the young Italian indicated after his victory over Atmane that his biggest dream was to play on Stadio Pietrangeli, the iconic 3,720-seat sunken arena court that has been hailed as one of the most beautiful and picturesque venues in all of professional tennis.
Pietrangeli, which is situated just north of Campo Centrale, features 18 classic white marble statues spread around the arena’s perimeter and highlights 1930s Roman architecture. It is named after the late Italian tennis legend Nicola Pietrangeli.
“My biggest dream is to play on Pietrangeli. I have no pretensions or requests,” said Cobolli after advancing to the third round in Rome for the first time. “I’m sure the tournament will do the best for me. I’m ready to play on all fields and in any conditions.”
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As a native Roman who grew up playing at the Parioli Tennis Club, winning a title at Foro Italico would be, in Cobolli’s own words, “the dream of my tennis life.” Certainly, winning the Rome Masters would mark an historic breakthrough in his career and help elevate him as a Top-10 talent on the ATP Tour.
But, first thing’s first and that’s facing Tirante on Campo Centrale. If he should win, Cobolli’s pathway to a first ATP Masters 1000 title could include facing 2023 Rome champion and this year’s No. 7 seed Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round; then, possibly another Argentine, No. 44 Mariano Navone, in the quarterfinals; and, of course, the top-seeded Sinner looms in the semifinals.
Looking ahead to playing Tirante on the big stage Monday evening, Cobolli said: “He is a very tough opponent, who I know. We grew up together. It will certainly be a battle. But I think I have the audience on my side, who will help me in difficult times.”
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