“Every night I still cry when I think about it…”: Flavio Cobolli opens up in tears and moves Italy

Rome, 9 June 2026– It wasn’t just a press conference. It was a moment of profound humanity. Flavio Cobolli, with his voice broken by tears and his eyes red with tears, finally broke the silence he had maintained after the painful defeat in the final at Roland Garros 2026. “Every night I still cry when I think about it…”, confessed the young Italian, leaving journalists, fans and the entire world of tennis speechless.

With palpable emotion, Cobolli decided to remove the mask of the strong and invincible champion. For weeks he had chosen silence, trying to process the defeat against Alexander Zverev alone. But yesterday, in front of the cameras, the 24-year-old Roman showed his most fragile and authentic side, describing the enormous weight he carried on his shoulders after that epic final.

“I gave everything I had inside. I fought until the last exchange. But when the match was over, it was as if something broke inside me,” he said with his voice trembling. “The pressure was enormous. Everyone expected me to win, to bring home the trophy for Italy. And when I didn’t succeed, I felt crushed.”

Cobolli spoke openly about the fierce criticism he received after the final, the accusations of inexperience, lack of mentality and even “not being up to par”. Words which, according to him, left deep wounds. “Some comments really hurt me. I didn’t expect so much malice. I felt alone, even though I was surrounded by many people.”

A pain kept hidden for too long

The young Italian talent revealed that he had experienced sleepless nights, moments of strong doubt and a deep sadness that he tried to hide from the world. “People only see the tennis player who smiles on the court. They don’t see the boy who in the evening, in his room, wonders if he’s really good enough”, he admitted with teary eyes.

This sincere confession deeply touched the fans. In a few hours the video went viral, exceeding five million views. On social networks, thousands of messages of affection have flooded Cobolli’s profiles: “Thank you for showing that even champions cry”, “You are even greater like this”, “Italy loves you Flavio”.

Many colleagues and tennis legends also reacted warmly. Jannik Sinner shared the video with a simple blue heart, while Matteo Berrettini wrote: “You are a great man even before a great champion. We are all with you”.

The pressure of being “the future of Italian tennis”

Cobolli explained how difficult it was to manage the enormous expectations that accompany those who are considered the future of Italian tennis. “After the semi-final everyone talked about me as the new Slam champion. But I’m still a 24-year-old boy. Sometimes this pressure becomes too much to bear.”

His coach confirmed that in the hours following the final Cobolli experienced a real emotional breakdown. “He cried a lot. He was destroyed. Not only because of the defeat, but because of the weight he felt on his shoulders,” he said. Now the team is working on both physical and mental recovery.

A message that goes beyond sport

Cobolli’s words didn’t just touch tennis fans. They have reached thousands of young Italians who every day fight their own battles against anxiety, depression and social pressure. His courage in showing himself vulnerable was hailed as an important example: true strength is not never falling, but having the courage to get up and ask for help.

Sports psychologists have underlined how Cobolli’s openness can help many young athletes not to be ashamed of their mental difficulties. “Flavio is giving a very powerful message: it is human to be fragile. It is human to suffer after an important defeat”, commented a well-known expert.

The future of Flavio Cobolli

Despite the pain, Cobolli concluded his speech with a message of hope. “This defeat taught me a lot. Now I want to take the time necessary to heal completely, both in body and mind. I want to come back stronger, but above all more serene.”

His team confirmed that the tennis player will take a period of rest before resuming preparation for the grass season. Wimbledon remains an ambitious goal, but the absolute priority is the mental and physical health of the champion.

An even more human hero

Flavio Cobolli has shown in recent days a maturity and sensitivity that are rare for a boy of his age. From a promising player in Italian tennis he has become something more: a young man capable of moving, inspiring and showing that behind trophies and successes there are real emotions, fragility and tears.

The whole of Italy, which had supported him with passion during Roland Garros, now accompanies him with even more affection in this difficult moment. Because sometimes it’s not the champion who wins who wins hearts, but the boy who has the courage to cry in front of everyone.