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Flavio Cobolli stunned Alexander Zverev to reach the Munich final, dedicating the emotional win to a 13-year-old friend who passed away just hours before the match.
An emotional Cobolli couldn’t fight back his tears after securing the win against Zverev (X)
Grief, grit, and a stunning upset — Flavio Cobolli delivered all three in a semifinal that will be remembered for a good while to come.
An emotionally overwhelmed Cobolli silenced the home crowd at the Munich Open on Saturday, producing a sensational 6-3, 6-3 win over defending champion Alexander Zverev to book his place in the final.
Flavio Cobolli learned of the tragic passing of one of his close friends from Italy, aged only 13, after his win yesterday.‘Every point I play, every ball I touch, every step I take, I will think of you,’ he posted.
Today, he was overcome with emotion after his semifinal win. pic.twitter.com/fxy7AQmrS1
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) April 18, 2026
Facing the World No. 3 in front of a partisan German crowd was a challenge enough.
But hours before the match, Cobolli was hit with devastating personal news: the death of 13-year-old Mattia, a young boy from his tennis club in Rome who tragically passed away after falling from a window.
What followed was a performance fuelled by heartbreak and purpose.
The 23-year-old Italian struck 32 winners and was nearly untouchable on serve, losing just eight points on his first delivery.
It marked his first-ever victory over a Top-5 opponent, and arguably the most significant win of his career.
“This Win Is for Him”
Fighting back tears during his on-court interview, Cobolli dedicated the victory to the young boy who had left a lasting impression on him.
“A friend of mine passed away yesterday. He was only 13 years old. He left us too soon. This win is for him.”
He later echoed that sentiment on Instagram:
“A special win today. Not just for tennis, but for something bigger. Thinking of Mattia, a young boy from my club in Parioli.”
In a deeply personal message posted earlier, Cobolli had written:
“Every point I play, every ball I touch, every step I take, I will think of you… the tennis school without you will never be the same… you will never be forgotten.”
A Final Beyond Tennis
For Zverev, the loss marked a fourth consecutive semifinal exit, following defeats to Jannik Sinner at three straight ATP Masters 1000 events.
But, Cobolli now heads into his maiden Munich final.
April 19, 2026, 10:51 IST
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