Flavio Cobolli caused a stir at Wimbledon after threatening to hit his own father during a bizarre on-court interview following his first-round victory. The Italian beat Mariano Navone 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(8) in a match that spanned two days due to darkness, but it was his post-match comments that grabbed headlines.
Cobolli's Emotional Outburst
Speaking to the BBC immediately after the win, the 24-year-old admitted he was struggling to contain his emotions. 'Wow,' he said. 'Now I completely hate my life. It's always like this. Always run. Always fight.' He revealed he saved six set points during the match, which contributed to his agitated state.
Cobolli, who could not stop moving his feet during the interview, joked about his frustration. 'I just wanna break something now. I cannot stop. You see? I need to hit something! I think I will hit my dad now.' His father also serves as his coach.
Threat to Father
When pressed further, Cobolli elaborated on the threat. 'For sure. The first person that I will hit. I still don't know with what. You'll see tomorrow if he has a black thing on the face.' The comment left the interviewer and crowd stunned.
The match itself was a grueling contest, with Cobolli saving six set points in the fourth-set tiebreak to secure his place in the second round. He had lost the first set 6-1 before rallying to win the next three sets.
Reaction and Aftermath
Cobolli's outburst drew immediate attention on social media, with fans and commentators expressing surprise at his candid remarks. Some praised his honesty, while others questioned the appropriateness of the comments directed at his father.
The Italian is set to face his next opponent in the second round, with no further incidents reported. His father, Stefano Cobolli, was seen courtside during the match and appeared unfazed by the comments.
