Flavio Cobolli on longtime partner Matilde Galli: ‘My best dream is watching her happy’ | ATP Tour

Racquets and Relationships

Cobolli on longtime accomplice Galli: ‘My finest dream is watching her glad’

Italian star Cobolli displays on his girlfriend’s significance

April 30, 2026

When Flavio Cobolli steps on court docket Thursday for his Mutua Madrid Open quarter-final towards second seed Alexander Zverev, the Italian is aware of he may have greater than his tennis crew in his nook.

The 23-year-old’s longtime accomplice, Matilde Galli, has performed a vital function in Cobolli’s rise on the ATP Tour.

“I knew her after I was nobody,” Cobolli informed ATPTour.com. “I used to be outdoors of this Tour, and I grew up utterly right here. I met her after I was 18, I used to be one-thousand-and-something on the planet, and we’re nonetheless collectively. So I believe we discovered one thing that, in fact, is working.”

Cobolli first met his accomplice at his finest buddy’s celebration — Galli was there together with his finest buddy’s sister. That proved a pivotal second of their lives.

Galli by no means misses a match Cobolli performs, he mentioned, explaining that she’s going to even watch him compete in the course of the evening. Nonetheless, they by no means communicate in regards to the particulars of the game.

As a substitute, the companions function supporters for each other. Cobolli is a star on the ATP Tour, and Galli is learning to grow to be a sanitary director for a hospital.

“My finest dream is watching her glad in what she does,” Cobolli mentioned. “Your loved ones is essential as a result of we spend our time rather well, we do many issues that we usually can not do. So my dream is to have extra time together with her and to see her glad in no matter she does.”

You will need to the No. 13 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings to be there for Galli the identical means she is for him. The three-time ATP Tour titlist enjoys being a useful resource each time she wants one.

“When she’s nervous [studying for an exam], I attempt to be type to her and assist make her life simpler. Nevertheless it’s not straightforward once you’re at all times on the Tour, and you’ve got strain all over the place and have one other strain at house. It isn’t straightforward,” Cobolli mentioned. “However I believe we’re doing properly. We’ve got an incredible relationship.”

Read More Racquets & Relationships Features

Whereas some ATP gamers journey with their companions, Galli is usually house to give attention to her schooling. So discovering a option to maintain in constant contact has confirmed essential.

“I believe we discovered the rhythm,” Cobolli mentioned. “However in fact, I wish to see her greater than I see her now and to see her extra on the tournaments with me. However I believe the primary purpose for her is to complete learning after which we’ll see after faculty if she will be able to come greater than she does now.”

That doesn’t imply Galli isn’t on the street. Cobolli misplaced 4 of his first 5 matches this season, after which he requested his girlfriend to spend a while with him on the ATP Tour. That proved useful, as a result of Cobolli then reached the semi-finals in Delray Seaside and received the ATP 500 occasion in Acapulco to beat his stoop and discover among the finest type of his profession.

“I really like her loads, and I believe she additionally loves me,” Cobolli mentioned, cracking a smile. “We’re very younger, however we have already got an incredible expertise with ourselves and our lives to say that she’s the one which I wish to have for all my life.

“It’s powerful as a result of we do not see one another loads throughout the 12 months as a result of she’s learning and I do that life [as a tennis player]. It is powerful since you at all times wish to see her throughout the 12 months, however it’s not doable. And we at all times attempt to discover a option to be collectively [even when we are apart].”

On the tennis court docket, Cobolli has his teaching crew in his field to assist information him by way of troublesome moments. In the end, although, it’s simply him and his opponent on the court docket. With that mentioned, inside and outdoors competitors, Galli is at all times by his aspect — bodily, or in spirit.

“When you possibly can depend on somebody that loves you a large number, that has been essential for us as a result of you have got somebody in your shoulder,” Cobolli mentioned. “Hopefully we will keep collectively for the remainder of our lives.”