Cobolli trains with Alcaraz in Turin before ATP Finals; Alcaraz stops early with stomach problems

Blue carpet in Piazza San Carlo

On Friday, 13 November, Turin's Piazza San Carlo hosted the blue carpet for the eight players of the 2026 ATP Finals, which start on Sunday at the Inalpi Arena. A long blue strip ran along Via Roma, and the players crossed a crowd that applauded and chanted. Flavio Cobolli arrived in a rock-style look with a leather coat over his shoulders, and fans, most of them Italian, called out for him to make them dream. The rest of the field, Alexander Zverev (the world number one, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano), Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar, also took part. Fils and Jodar were making their Finals debuts, while Shelton was returning for a second appearance in Turin. Before the walk, the group posed for photos with Mayor Stefano Lo Russo, Piedmont regional assessor Andrea Tronzano and FITP president Angelo Binaghi, and the players then signed autographs on tennis balls, photos and shirts.

Training on the Centrale court

Around midday on Friday, Cobolli and Alcaraz shared the Centrale court at the Inalpi Arena for about two hours, trading big shots in front of onlookers. Cobolli won the friendly practice set 6-3, played with smiles on both sides. Adnkronos gave Alcaraz's world ranking as number three, and noted that he has never won the Turin tournament. ANSA reported that the indoor court plays fast, with short rallies often decided by the serve. Cobolli and Alcaraz are in the Ivan Lendl group, and Adnkronos said they would probably meet in a round-robin match on Tuesday, 17 November. Marca, cited by Il Fatto Quotidiano, reported that Alcaraz stopped about 20 minutes early because of stomach problems that had troubled him since breakfast, and he left the court surrounded by his team. Before the walk, Cobolli told Sky Sport that he hoped to carry Sinner's name high, since Sinner is not in the field.

“I hope to carry Sinner's name high, he deserved to be here with me.”

Schedule ahead

Cobolli opens against Daniil Medvedev on Monday, 16 November, according to ANSA. Cobolli said that the match will be difficult because the Russian player is in form. The competition begins on Sunday, 15 November, so the practice session and the parade are a warm-up for the tournament. The Cobolli and Alcaraz round-robin match is expected on Tuesday, 17 November, if the draw holds as Adnkronos described it.

Grand opening show

Achille Lauro headlined the Grand Opening Show at the Inalpi Arena on Friday, and Tgcom24 reported that 15,000 people attended. He performed for two hours, changed outfits three times and played with electric guitars, drums and a string quartet. Flavio Cobolli opened the evening with Max Giusti in a mix of sketches and songs. The tournament's best match each day will be broadcast free to air by Mediaset, according to Tgcom24. The show closes a year of sold-out concerts and events for Lauro, who plans a stadium run in 2027.