By Jess Anderson, BBC Sport Journalist at Wimbledon
Wimbledon 2025
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio, and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs, and mobile app. Full coverage guide available.

Flavio Cobolli, the 22nd seed, is a daily student of his idol, Novak Djokovic. He pores over Djokovic’s match footage, seeking subtle techniques and strategies to gain an edge. Now, the 22-year-old Italian faces a new challenge: studying Djokovic’s game to find weaknesses as he prepares to face the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Centre Court—the biggest match of his career.

Cobolli earned his spot by defeating veteran Marin Cilic in the fourth round. “I’ll be on one of the greatest stages in the world, the best court,” Cobolli said. “Djokovic is my idol. I want to enjoy every moment, the crowd, and every point I play against him.”

A Journey Beyond Tennis

Cobolli’s path to tennis stardom wasn’t always certain. As a child, he spent five years in the youth academy of his beloved football club, Roma, playing as a right-back. At 14, he chose tennis, drawn to its individual nature. Yet, his passion for Roma endures. He attends matches when possible, often favoring football over tennis on TV. A tattoo on his chest reads, “sei tu l’unica mia sposa, sei tu l’unico mio amor” (“you are my only wife, you are my only love”), a quote from Roma legend Daniele de Rossi.

His ties to Roma remain strong through friendships with players like Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori and Fiorentina’s Edoardo Bove. Cobolli was at a match when Bove collapsed on the pitch last year, a moment that left him in tears. Bove later surprised Cobolli by attending his Hamburg Open final, where Cobolli triumphed over Andrey Rublev in straight sets to claim the title.

Cobolli hasn’t entirely abandoned football. He enjoys foot tennis with ATP Tour peers like Carlos Alcaraz and plays padel with Roma friends.

Conquering Grass

Ironically, Cobolli once “hated playing on grass” as a junior footballer. Yet, at Wimbledon, he’s thrived, reaching his first Grand Slam quarter-final. His confidence on the surface has grown, highlighted by his emotional fourth-round celebration, where he ran to embrace his family while his father and coach, Stefano, wept. Stefano, a former player who peaked at world No. 238 and competed in Wimbledon qualifiers in 2004, admits he’s the emotional one. “When I lost, I’d cry or stay angry for days,” he said. “Flavio? After 10 minutes, he’s smiling again. That’s his true character.”

Facing the Idol

Cobolli’s rise is no surprise to those tracking his progress. He claimed his first ATP title in Romania this year and followed it with a Hamburg victory. At Wimbledon, he was unstoppable until facing Cilic, winning all four matches without dropping a set. Now, he faces the daunting task of challenging Djokovic, who has been doing his own research. Djokovic revealed his son hit with Cobolli at the All England Club and plans to ask him for insights. “They played some points,” Djokovic said. “He’s over the moon. He’s got everyone’s signature on his hat—except mine.”

Cobolli’s dynamic shot selection and athleticism have captivated Wimbledon crowds, though Djokovic noted his grass-court success is unexpected, as his game seems less suited to the surface. “He’s a talented player, a big fighter,” Djokovic said. “We get along well and practice together often. Let the better player win.”

As Cobolli steps onto Centre Court, he carries his Roma roots, his family’s support, and a lifelong admiration for his opponent, ready to embrace the biggest stage of his career.