From Roma’s Youth Academy to the Tennis Court
Did you know that the sensational Roland Garros finalist could have actually become a footballer? Until the age of 13, Flavio Cobolli trained at the AS Roma youth academy, where he played as a right-back. His football idols are the legends of Rome, Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi, and he remains very close friends with footballers like Riccardo Calafiori and Edoardo Bove today. However, in the end, he chose the racket because, as he says himself, he prefers “winning alone.”
Incredible Rituals and Superstition: The Secret of Nadal’s Shower
When it comes to tennis, Cobolli is incredibly superstitious! His amazing run at this year’s Roland Garros follows a strict ritual: he eats at the same restaurant every day, orders the same menu, and keeps the exact same string tension on his rackets throughout the entire tournament.
However, the craziest story of the tournament is his choice of shower stall. Every day, Cobolli showers exclusively in the same stall that Rafael Nadal used for 14 years while he dominated Paris! Interestingly, on a previous occasion at another tournament, Nadal himself once knocked on the door of that stall to hurry him up to get out. It seems that Rafa’s magic has now been passed on to him!
Zverev vs. Cobolli: Statistics Before the Big Final
As for today’s final match against Zverev, here is the situation: Zverev and Cobolli know each other very well, and statistics show that Zverev currently leads the head-to-head 3-1.
However, things are much more tense if we look only at this 2026 season, where they are completely tied (1-1) on clay! Cobolli managed to surprise Zverev in the semifinals of the Munich tournament, winning 6-3, 6-3. The German player soon took his revenge with a convincing victory in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Masters (6-1, 6-4). Zverev also celebrated in their clash last year right here at Roland Garros.
A clash of experience and new energy, of a top-tier server and a fast-footed fighter. Who will lift the Musketeers’ Cup? 🏆
While Cobolli seeks a sensation, you can learn more about his opponent and the challenges ahead in our detailed Zverev final analysis.
Follow all live scores and the latest analysis on our Main Roland Garros Hub!
