ATP Tour
Cobolli’s key to snapping dropping run in Delray Seaside: the facility of The Hulk!
Learn how Cobolli’s tattoo of superhero commemorates his personal function in Italy’s 2025 Davis Cup triumph
February 19, 2026
Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
Flavio Cobolli is sporting a brand new Hulk tattoo on his proper leg.
By ATP Workers
Flavio Cobolli, feeling like a superhero on the Delray Beach Open.
The third-seeded Italian celebrated his first ATP Tour win since 4 January on Wednesday by exhibiting off his new tattoo to the gang on the hard-court ATP 250 in Florida. Cobolli, who overcame Terence Atmane 7-5, 6-4, was fast to attribute his victory to the distinctive inexperienced character now inked into his proper leg: The Hulk.
“In Davis Cup [last year], you keep in mind I [ripped] my t-shirt, so now I’ve Hulk,” stated the No. 20 within the PIF ATP Rankings Cobolli in his on-court interview. “It’s recent, like two weeks previous. I felt like Hulk on the courtroom [then], so now I’ve to be like him!”
“I really feel like Hulk on the courtroom now” 🤣💪🦸♂️
Italian superhero @cobollifla has a brand new tattoo to share…#DBOpen | 📍Delray Seaside pic.twitter.com/mCCda4gmim
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 18, 2026
Cobolli’s shirt-shredding celebration that impressed the tattoo got here after he saved seven match factors and gained a 32-point deciding-set tie-break to beat Zizou Bergs and seal Italy a spot in November’s Davis Cup Closing, which the European nation subsequently gained. He showcased that kind of on-court grit once more in opposition to Atmane on Wednesday by bouncing again from 4 consecutive defeats to set a quarter-final assembly with Coleman Wong, who defeated Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-6(4).
“It’s my first win [for a while], so I’m actually blissful to be in the midst of the courtroom,” stated Cobolli after levelling his Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence with Atmane at 1-1. “It was powerful, the start of the yr, however now I’m actually blissful to be right here at this incredible match.
“It was a distinct outcome [to last time]. I misplaced to him final time with an amazing battle in Cincinnati. I practised effectively this week and felt comfy staying on the courtroom for a very long time. I’m actually blissful how I managed this primary spherical in opposition to a troublesome opponent like Terence.”
In different motion, second seed Casper Ruud fought off a stern check from Marcos Giron, defeating the American 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4. Giron will rue being two factors from victory at 6/6 within the second-set tie-break.
Ruud then constructed upon his momentum by breaking the American’s serve within the opening sport of the decider earlier than crusing throughout the end line. Taking part in in his first match because the Australian Open, the 27-year-old improved to 3-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence with Giron and can now look to increase his excellent 2-0 document in opposition to Sebastian Korda.
Ruud is making his first look on the ATP 250 in Delray Seaside, the place the Norwegian arrived simply weeks after he and his fiancée Maria welcomed the birth of their first child, a daughter.
Korda defeated countryman Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6(6), saving 4 set factors within the second set to keep away from a decider and attain the final eight. The 25-year-old broke Michelsen at 4-5 within the second set, crucially getting again on serve after dealing with three set factors in that sport. Korda fended off one other set level on return at 5/6 within the tie-break.
Korda, the No. 50 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings, is the second man to achieve three tour-level quarter-finals this season, alongside Ben Shelton. Korda reached the Delray Seaside ultimate in 2021.
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