History made in the sand! Flavio Cobolli lifts the first Italian trophy in Acapulco
The scene was pure emotion. Flavio Cobolli, kneeling on the court of the GNP Seguros Arena, raised his hands to the sky while the public chanted his name. A moment that sealed something unprecedented: for the first time, the Italian flag flies as champion of the Mexican Tennis Open.
The young Italian defeated the American Frances Tiafoe by a double 7-6(4) and 6-4. A match where he never felt like a favorite, but where his tennis spoke louder than any prediction.
“My girlfriend deserves this title. I have the trophy and she will have the hat,” Cobolli declared with a huge smile at the press conference. “Now I feel very confident. The number fifteen is very important to me.”
And that number is key. Not only is it his third ATP title, but starting Monday he will climb to 15th place in the world ranking. A jump of five positions that reflects his great week.
The detail that makes the victory more special
This was precisely the third confrontation between Cobolli and Tiafoe on the circuit. The third time was the charm for the Italian, who took home the coveted Guaje de Plata.
“It’s a ‘pear’ that I want to get tattooed,” he joked about the trophy, showing that special connection he achieved with the Mexican public throughout the week.
For Tiafoe, although the defeat hurts, there is consolation: he will rise from 28th to 22nd in the ranking. You always learn more from a lost final than from a thousand easy victories.
This 33rd edition of the tournament saw an important change with Juan Martín del Potro as ambassador. His mere presence gave another dimension to the event. But on Saturday night, all the attention went to a young Italian who wrote his name in the history of Mexican tennis.
Sometimes, dreams do come true on the field. And Cobolli has just experienced his.
