Flavio Cobolli Admits Roland Garros Heartbreak ‘Will Stay With Me Forever’

Flavio Cobolli got close to winning his career’s first Grand Slam title this June. He reached the final of the French Open but ended up losing a hard-fought five-set battle to Alexander Zverev. Cobolli accepts his defeats easily, but the heartbreaking defeat that he suffered in the Roland Garros final is something he will never forget.

For Zverev, it was his first Grand Slam title after three final defeats (2020 US Open, 2024 French Open, and the 2025 Australian Open). But for three days (September 25 to September 27), rivalry took a backseat as both players joined hands to represent Team Europe at the Laver Cup in London. And there, Cobolli sat for an interview with Ubitennis, during which he talked about his bond with Sascha.

He’s a brilliant lad; I’ve managed to build a very special relationship with Sascha. We talk a lot, we keep in touch, we joke around, we play games, and we also do things outside the court like games, escape rooms, golf… We know how to have fun, you see. I appreciate him, and I’m fond of him.

Zverev leads Cobolli 4-1 in the head-to-head matchups. The lone win that the 24-year-old registered was in the semifinals of this year’s Munich Open.

No, I don’t think I ever will, but you know… I think I’m very good at accepting defeat, even though that’s one that will stay with me forever. But I believe and hope I’ll get another chance to play a match like that. Obviously, we’ll work towards that. But I enjoyed it, and I’m happy with the result I achieved.

Flavio Cobolli added

Both Cobolli and Zverev will next play at the China Open. The ATP 500 event in Beijing starts on September 30. Cobolli is the 4th seed in Beijing, while Zverev became the top seed after the withdrawal of reigning champion Jannik Sinner. Six-time champion Novak Djokovic will also be competing.

Zverev will be chasing his third title of the season after wins in Paris and at the US Open. He also played the finals of the Madrid Open as well as Wimbledon, losing both times to Sinner. At the China Open, the two-time Grand Slam champion will lock horns with Cameron Norrie in the first round.

Flavio Cobolli on his relationship with Carlos Alcaraz

Also during that aforementioned interview with Ubitennis, Flavio Cobolli spoke about his relationship with Carlos Alcaraz and how it is different from the rest of the players. They have known each other since their junior days and have also trained together, most recently in Murcia last year. When the Italian was asked about his bond with the 23-year-old, Cobolli said Alcaraz is closer to him than others.

With Alcaraz, compared to the rest of the team, there’s a closer bond. But I’ve built relationships with all the players, in different ways, of course.

Alcaraz will be competing at the Japan Open, where he defeated Taylor Fritz in the final last year. He will be chasing his third title of the season after wins at the Australian Open and the Qatar Open. The Murcia native also played the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters but lost the title to Jannik Sinner.

Cobolli, on the other hand, has played three finals this season, winning one title at the Mexican Open by beating Frances Tiafoe. He lost the Munich Open final to Ben Shelton, before losing the French Open final to Alexander Zverev.

Alcaraz has faced Cobolli just once, in the first round of the 2023 Roland Garros and won that match. Cobolli, in his China Open first-round, will lock horns with Roman Safiullin. Alcaraz will face Alex Michelsen in his Japan Open first-round match.

Also read: John McEnroe Makes No.1 Ranking Claim About Alexander Zverev After Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Injury-Hit Season