0Italian tennis player Flavio Cobolli was left in tears after an injury forced him to retire from his Vienna Open 2026 quarter-final against compatriot and close friend Matteo Berrettini on Thursday. The emotional scenes unfolded on court as Berrettini went over to console Cobolli, who was unable to continue the match despite his efforts to push through the discomfort.
The retirement handed Berrettini a place in the semi-finals, but the result took a back seat as concerns grew over Cobolli’s fitness with the ATP Finals in Turin approaching in November. The 23-year-old later revealed that he had felt discomfort during his previous match but had hoped to continue competing in Vienna.
Cobolli’s match against Berrettini came to an abrupt end with the Italian trailing 2-5 in the opening set. After just seven games, the world No. 6 broke down in tears as he prepared to serve to stay in the set and retired from the second-round encounter. Berrettini had taken a 4-2 lead before breaking again to move 5-2 ahead.
“Vienna, I’m sorry to say goodbye to you like this. I love this tournament and I was really looking forward to facing Matteo, with all of you in the stands.
I felt something during the match the other night, but I wanted to push through to the end. Today, though, I realized that continuing would mean forcing it too much, and I had to stop.
Those tears weren’t from pain. They were emotion, maybe a bit of stress, and the disappointment of having to leave the court when all I wanted was to stay on it.
Tomorrow I’ll do all the tests and I’ll update you as soon as possible. Don’t worry, I plan to be there in Paris! Thanks for all the love”
Berrettini’s Emotional Words For Childhood Friend Cobolli
The moment was difficult for Berrettini as well because of his long-standing friendship with Cobolli. The two Italians share a connection that goes beyond professional tennis, having known each other since childhood.
After the match, Berrettini recalled the early days of Cobolli’s sporting journey and the decision that shaped his career.
“I remember the day he chose playing tennis over football. I remember his eyes, the same eyes he has now. A little kid dreaming of playing the big stages,” Berrettini said.
The 29-year-old’s words added an emotional dimension to an already difficult moment, as he consoled his friend following the retirement.
Cobolli Targets Paris Return Ahead Of ATP Finals
Cobolli’s immediate priority will be to undergo medical examinations to determine the extent of the injury. He confirmed that he would share an update after the tests and expressed his intention to compete in Paris.
With the Paris Masters approaching (starting from October 31 to November 8) and the ATP Finals scheduled to take place in Turin from November 15 to 22. Cobolli is chasing a place among the leading players in the season-ending race, making his fitness crucial during the final stretch of the campaign.