Flavio Cobolli has provided insight into his emotional exit from the Vienna Open after retiring in the first set of his second-round match against fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini. The 24-year-old, who had previously defeated Grigor Dimitrov in three sets during the opening round, was forced to withdraw while trailing 5-2. As Cobolli left the court in tears on Thursday night, Berrettini attempted to console him before the contest concluded.
Shortly after the match, Cobolli took to social media to address his departure and a new injury concern ahead of the Paris Masters. In an Instagram story, he expressed regret over leaving the tournament early, noting that he had felt something during his previous match but initially hoped to continue. He explained that by Thursday, it became clear he could not proceed without risking further damage, forcing him to stop. Cobolli clarified that his tears were not a result of physical pain, but rather a mix of emotion, stress, and the disappointment of having to leave when he wanted to stay on court.
The French Open finalist indicated that he would undergo further tests the following day and aims to return for competition in Paris next week. His potential absence from Vienna impacts his preparation for the season-ending event in Turin, where he is currently in a strong position to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time in his career.
With Jannik Sinner's season-ending knee injury, Cobolli effectively sits fifth in the Race with 3,680 points. The current qualification cutoff stands at 3,785 points, giving him a 496-point advantage over Rafael Jodar, who holds the final qualifying spot. While this injury is not ideal preparation, his optimism about playing in Paris suggests the issue may not be severe. However, competitors like Alex De Minaur and Novak Djokovic are closely monitoring his condition as they also vie for a place in Turin. De Minaur, currently in the Vienna quarter-finals, trails Jodar by 254 points, while Djokovic, following a loss to Jan-Lennard Struff in Basel, is another 40 points behind.
Sources: Tennis365.