Flavio Cobolli Gets Emotional After Memorable Victory Against Alexander Zverev in Munich

Flavio Cobolli will play Ben Shelton in the Munich Open final.

Flavio Cobolli Gets Emotional After Memorable Victory Against Alexander Zverev in Munich

Flavio Cobolli was emotional (via Tennis.com)

In Short
  • Flavio Cobolli defeated Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3 to reach the BMW Open final, marking his first victory over a top-five opponent.
  • Cobolli dedicated his win to a close friend who passed away just a day before the match, showcasing immense emotional resilience.
  • He will face Ben Shelton in the final, seeking his fourth tour-level title amid a deeply personal motivation.

The BMW Open crowd in Munich arrived on Saturday expecting a coronation for their hometown hero, but Flavio Cobolli flipped the script in stunning fashion. The 23-year-old Italian executed a flawless game plan to defeat World No. 3 and defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3, securing his maiden victory over a top-five opponent and booking a spot in the tournament final.

The significance of this victory extends far beyond the clay courts of Germany or the ATP rankings points. Just one day prior, Cobolli learned of the tragic passing of a close friend back in Italy, who was only 13 years old.

Playing with a heavy heart and unimaginable grief, the young Italian channeled his emotions into a dominant performance that left the Munich crowd stunned and the tennis world collectively wiping away tears.

According to post-match interviews, the emotional outpouring immediately following the match point was directly tied to this devastating personal loss.

During his on-court interview, Cobolli dedicated the upset victory to his late friend. The raw human emotion on display was a stark reminder that these athletes carry invisible burdens every time they step onto the court.

The tragedy behind the tears

The image of Flavio Cobolli immediately following the handshake will be etched in the memory of tennis fans for a long time. After embracing Alexander Zverev at the net, he turned to the crowd, raised his arms in a mix of triumph and exhaustion, and then completely broke down. He collapsed into his courtside seat, burying his face in a towel as the weight of the last 24 hours finally washed over him. He said:

A friend of mine passed away yesterday. He was only 13 years old. This win is for him.

Flavio Cobolli (via X/Jose Morgado)
Flavio Cobolli (via X/Jose Morgado)

Before the match, the Italian took to social media to share his grief. To step onto a stadium court against the defending champion and World No. 3 while navigating profound grief requires a level of mental fortitude that cannot be taught in practice. It is the kind of human resilience that makes sports so compelling.

Adding another layer of complexity to the match is the relationship between the two players. Cobolli and Zverev are actually close friends on the ATP tour. Facing a buddy is always a strange dynamic for professional tennis players, let alone doing it in a friend’s backyard while processing a personal tragedy.

Setting the stage for the final

Now, the Italian sensation must find a way to reset his emotions and his physical battery. He is seeking his fourth tour-level title and his second of the season following a triumph in Acapulco earlier this year. But standing in his way is American powerhouse Ben Shelton.

Ben Shelton Canadian Open 2025
Ben Shelton (image via National Bank Open)

Shelton, the No. 2 seed, soared past Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4 to reach back-to-back finals in Munich. The big-serving American fired six aces and won 73 percent of his first-serve points, looking every bit the title contender. Shelton leads their head-to-head record 3-2, though Cobolli claimed their only previous clay-court encounter at the Geneva Open.

Looking ahead, all eyes will be on Center Court at the MTTC Iphitos to see if Cobolli can finish this incredible run. With his powerful baseline game clicking and a deeply personal motivation fueling his every swing, the Italian has transformed from an underdog into a force of nature. If he brings the same combination of tactical brilliance and raw emotional firepower to the final, Shelton is going to have his hands full.

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