Cobolli leads the Italian resistance

It was 16 November 2021 when, at the ATP Finals in Turin – the very first edition to be held in Italy – Jannik Sinner made his debut in the tournament amongst the world’s top eight players. At the time, he took advantage of Matteo Berrettini’s injury – yet another abdominal strain – to step into a tournament where he had originally been a reserve, essentially to gain experience, train and watch the best players compete, whilst his main concern, as he had expected, was choosing the best Piola restaurant for dinner. It all came together so quickly that, over the following five years in Turin, the South Tyrolean lost just one match: the 2023 final against Djokovic. He then went on to win two trophies in a row, including last year’s final against Carlos Alcaraz. That success sent ticket prices soaring, perhaps beyond all expectations. Except that this time, Sinner is not there. And so there is a distinct feeling in the air that everything could be turned on its head (some people have even put those very tickets back on sale). There is also the sense that the Carota boys will at least have an alternative to fall back on when it comes to supporting their team.

Just as last year, when Lorenzo Musetti managed to qualify alongside Sinner, so this year, alongside the Vavassori-Bolelli pairing, we are not left without a representative in the singles. Flavio Cobolli has caused some concern in the final weeks of the season. In Vienna, he was seen leaving the court in tears after losing to his childhood friend Berrettini, and observers were already prepared to sound the death knell for the Italian tennis scene, which ‘without Sinner is not up to scratch’. However, following Rafa Jodar’s defeat at Paris Bercy—which mathematically secured his qualification—the Roman Roland Garros finalist posted on social media that phrase, “magical nights”, which reassured everyone. Indoor hard courts are certainly not Cobolli’s favourite surface, as he requires wide movements to set up his shots. And in his group, featuring Alcaraz, Medvedev and Tiafoe, perhaps only against the latter does he start on equal terms. “Flavio must see the Finals as his own party. We can give it a go,” said Federation president Angelo Binaghi, offering him encouragement. Perhaps aware that this year the Italian flag won’t be flying on the final Sunday (unless Vavassori and Bolelli pull off another feat). We’ll see.

All eyes – apart from our own – are naturally on Alcaraz, who has never won the Finals. But also on Zverev (his group also includes Ben Shelton, Arthur Fils and Jodar, the latter two also making their debuts), who arrived in Turin at the end of a season in which he managed to shake off the ‘loser’ label, won two Grand Slams and is world number one. “I don’t have to prove anything else,” he was keen to point out when asked if he felt lucky to have capitalised on a year marked by absences – including Sinner’s (more than six months) and Alcaraz’s (over four months): “The aim of a professional tennis player is to stay fit for 11 months out of 12.” That, too, is an achievement. In Rome, he wasn’t recognised at the entrance to a sushi restaurant; who knows if they’ll spot him in Turin whilst he’s on the hunt for anchovies in green sauce and bagna cauda. Attention will then turn to Jodar, as those who believe (rightly so) that, having started the season around 160th in the world rankings, he is set to become a genuine ‘fourth wheel’ alongside Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev next year.

Anyone eager to catch a glimpse of Sinner need not despair. Although he will not be competing—a circumstance we have by now come to terms with—he is expected to be seen among the stands at the Inalpi Arena. Following the event in Milan, where he provided an update on his physical condition (“I hope to return to Australia”), he will participate in several meetings with sponsors. He has become a regular presence in the city, having visited J-Medical frequently over the past few months, ever since Roland Garros. Next year—his last official year in Turin, after which he may remain there or move to Milan until 2030—is expected to see him reclaim his place among the world’s top eight.