Cobolli storms into Roland Garros last 16, then steals the show with Champions League plea: 'Let me sleep!'
Italy's Flavio Cobolli delivered a dominant performance to reach the Roland Garros fourth round for the first time, then charmed the Paris crowd by pleading for a quiet night ahead of the Champions League final.
A commanding victory on Chatrier
Flavio Cobolli produced a masterclass on Court Philippe-Chatrier, dismantling American Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in just one hour and 46 minutes. The Italian 10th seed never faced a break point in a match he controlled from start to finish, breaking Tien's serve repeatedly in the opening two sets. It marked Cobolli's first career win on Roland Garros's main show court and his debut in the second week of the Parisian Slam, improving on his third-round exit from the previous season.
I am very happy with this performance, it's my first win on this centre court.
The 24-year-old from Rome was in imperious form, needing less than 30 minutes to seal the first set and barely an hour and ten minutes to establish a two-set lead. Tien, who had impressed in earlier rounds, appeared fatigued and had no answer to Cobolli's clay-court prowess.
An open draw and a golden chance
With top seeds Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic already eliminated, and Carlos Alcaraz absent from the tournament, Cobolli acknowledged the unusual opportunity unfolding in Paris. He noted a different atmosphere in the locker room, sensing that many players now see a path deep into the draw. His next opponent will be American Zachary Svajda, ranked 87th in the world, who upset Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo in a five-set battle lasting over three hours.
When you walk through the locker rooms there is an opening for everyone and everyone wants to seize it. I am ready to fight for every point to be able to seize it.
Cobolli stressed he would need to study Svajda carefully, having never faced him on red clay, but acknowledged he is playing on his favourite surface and has a greater chance here than at any other Slam.
Champions League steals the spotlight
In his on-court interview, Cobolli quickly pivoted away from tennis, declaring he did not want to discuss the sport on the day of the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. He revealed a childhood friendship with Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, with whom he played football before switching to tennis, but also professed admiration for PSG and their manager Luis Enrique.
I played football before tennis and I played with Calafiori who plays for Arsenal. But I also love PSG because of Luis Enrique. So today I will cheer for the most beautiful match ever with lots of goals.
The mixed allegiance drew playful jeers from the Parisian crowd, which Cobolli defused with laughter. He ended with a heartfelt request: if PSG win, fans should keep the noise down so he can sleep. The final is being held in Budapest, with thousands of PSG supporters already gathering at a fan zone near the Parc des Princes, just a few hundred metres from Roland Garros.
What comes next
Cobolli will face Svajda for a place in the quarter-finals, a stage he has never reached at a major. The Italian said he would treat the match as his own final and was ready to fight for the shared goal of a deep run. Elsewhere in the Italian contingent, Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi were also in action later on Saturday, seeking to join Cobolli in the second week.
