KITZBÜHEL/STARNBERG, July 16, 2026
Flavio Cobolli has withdrawn from next week’s Generali Open Kitzbühel, choosing to take a two-week break after a demanding run of tournaments before the start of the North American hard-court season.
The Italian made the decision following his first-round defeat to Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga at the ATP 250 event in Umag, where he exited in straight sets.
In a video message addressed to fans in Kitzbühel, Cobolli expressed his disappointment at missing the Austrian tournament.
“I was really looking forward to coming back. After so many matches over the past few weeks, I need to take a break to recharge my batteries and recover before travelling to the United States. Thank you to everyone in Kitzbühel, and I hope to see you all again next year,” he said.
Tournament director Alexander Antonitsch admitted Cobolli’s withdrawal was a significant disappointment. The Italian had been secured for the event early in the year, at a time when he was still ranked inside the world’s Top 20.
“Naturally, we’re very disappointed,” Antonitsch said. “We committed to Flavio very early because we believed he would be one of the stars of this year’s tournament. Over the past few weeks he has played a tremendous amount of tennis and enjoyed excellent results.”
Antonitsch also pointed out that tournament organisers have little control over players’ schedules once the entry deadline has passed.
“We do everything we can before the entry deadline to assemble the strongest possible field. After that, we’re largely passengers. The tournaments players choose to play and how they manage their workload are entirely their decisions. As a tournament director, you almost start worrying when a player has been playing—and winning—so much.”
Despite Cobolli’s withdrawal, Antonitsch remains optimistic thanks to the presence of another leading player.
“Fortunately, we secured Alexander Bublik early on as a second Top-10 player. He has already confirmed his accommodation, so we’re confident he will be here. Even so, we’re naturally very disappointed to lose Flavio.”
Cobolli’s absence opens the door for two notable additions to the main draw. Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, fresh from his Wimbledon quarterfinal run and back inside the world’s Top 40, and Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego both gain direct entry into the ATP 250 event.
Qualifying for the Generali Open Kitzbühel begins on 18 July.
