Flavio Cobolli Retires Against Matteo Berrettini at Erste Bank Open Due to Injury
An emotional retirement in Vienna leaves Flavio Cobolli's ATP Finals aspirations temporarily in question following a left-leg injury.
Italian tennis player Flavio Cobolli was forced to retire during the second-round match against close friend and compatriot Matteo Berrettini on Thursday at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Austria. Trailing 2-5 in the opening set, Cobolli stepped to his bench in tears and brought an abrupt end to the indoor hard-court encounter due to a left-leg issue.
The match marked the first career Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between the two friends, whose bond dates back to their childhood days playing tennis on weekends in Rome. What was intended as a celebratory milestone for both athletes turned into a difficult moment as Berrettini approached the bench to comfort his visibly distressed opponent.
"I am so sorry for him. I have been there many times, maybe too many times," Berrettini said after the match. "That’s why I got emotional. I know how tough it can be. I know how much he wants to be in Turin and the last thing you want is to get an injury a few weeks before. Hopefully it is not going to be anything serious."
Cobolli later took to social media to address his supporters and clarify the nature of his tears on the court. He explained that he had felt discomfort during a previous match and attempted to push through, but ultimately realized that continuing would mean forcing the injury too far.
"Those tears were not from pain. They were emotion, perhaps a bit of stress and the disappointment of having to leave the court when I just wanted to stay," Cobolli wrote on Instagram. He added that he would undergo medical examinations the following day, express optimism about participating in upcoming events, and thanked fans for their overwhelming affection.
Despite the setback at the ATP 500 tournament, Cobolli remains in the hunt for a spot at the prestigious season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. He currently sits sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, though other competitors such as Arthur Fils and Alex de Minaur are closely pursuing qualification slots as well.
Berrettini praised his childhood friend's resilience and career trajectory, recalling the day Cobolli chose tennis over soccer as a young boy with big dreams. As Cobolli awaits medical evaluations to determine the extent of his injury, the tennis world watches closely to see if the young Italian can maintain his standing and realize his dream of competing in Turin.