Flavio Cobolli is enjoying a breakout year on the ATP Tour this season, having won his first two titles and reaching a career high of world number 17.
Cobolli clinched his first crown at the Bucharest Open in April and won the Hamburg Open in May, defeating Andrey Rublev in the final.
At Wimbledon earlier this summer, the Italian recorded his best finish at a Grand Slam event, reaching the quarter-finals at the All England Club.
In the last eight, Cobolli faced Novak Djokovic for just the second time in his career, and managed to take a set off the 24-time major champion in an impressive display of tennis.
Despite losing, the 23-year-old put up a much better fight than in his previous bout with the Serb, which he recently recalled.
Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty ImagesFlavio Cobolli’s ‘disaster’ against Novak Djokovic last year
In an interview with Tennis Channel, Cobolli said: “Nole is my idol since I started playing tennis.
“I played him in Shanghai last year and I did a disaster. I lost 6-1, 6-2 in 45 minutes and I did a disaster because I was really nervous to play against him.
“This time I was more confident on my game, I had four wins in Wimbledon and I came that day with more confidence in myself.
“I just tried to play my game and be happy about everything on that court, everything at that tournament, so I think I played one of my best matches ever.
“I didn’t win, but it’s never easy to win against him at a Slam, so I think I did a great thing in Wimbledon but also during this season because it starts really tight and I was injured, so I think I changed my game, my mind and now I’m really happy to play tennis on this stage.”
Flavio Cobolli’s run to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon this year
Cobolli began the 2025 Wimbledon championships with a flawless start, earning straight-set victories over Beibit Zhukayev, Jack Pinnington Jones, and 15th seed Jakub Mensik.
In the fourth round, he came up against former US Open champion Marin Cilic, who had previously knocked out home hope Jack Draper.
RoundOpponentQuarter-FinalNovak DjokovicFourth RoundMarin CilicThird RoundJakub MensikSecond RoundJack Pinnington JonesFirst RoundBeibit Zhukayev
Edging the Croatian in a fourth-set tiebreak, Cobolli secured his fourth straight win in SW19 to advance to the quarter-finals.
Against Djokovic, he took the first set on Centre Court and had the crowd behind him, but ultimately the seven-time Wimbledon champion proved too much for him.