Tennis star breaks down in tears as rival rushes over in 'utterly devastating' scenes

Matteo Berrettini rushed to Flavio Cobolli's bench when his opponent started sobbing.

Matteo Berrettini came over to comfort Flavio Cobolli (Image: Tennis TV)

Flavio Cobolli burst into tears as he was suddenly forced to retire in the middle of his second-round match at the Vienna Open. The No. 4 seed was facing countryman Matteo Berrettini when he began sobbing while 2-5 down in the first set. Berrettini came straight over to comfort his opponent. But Cobolli could do nothing but sob as the umpire officially announced the match was over. Cobolli covered his face with a towel during the changeover, and did not get up when the umpire called time.

“You don’t know how long he’s got out here,” commentator Lucie Ahl told viewers. “Do you think this is because there’s an injury here that he knows he’s dealing with, with Turin [ATP Finals] in mind?” Nick Lester replied.

The umpire asked the 24-year-old but he shook his head and kept crying, and Berrettini came straight over. “Oh man, this is heartbreaking,” Lester said, as microphones picked up the sound of Cobolli’s sobs.

Berrettini covered his mouth as he spoke to his countryman. The former world No. 6 has dealt with plenty of injury woes himself which derailed his career after he finished runner-up at Wimbledon in 2021. Just this year, Berrettini was forced to retire in the middle of the Roland Garros quarter-finals. He had not even played that event for five years because of physical issues.

He also has a very close bond with Cobolli, and was coached by his rival’s father when he was younger. Berrettini has known the world No. 6 since he was a child, and it only added to the emotion. The chair umpire announced that Cobolli had retired and the match was over, and the fourth seed kept crying.

“What a moving picture that is,” Lester continued. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything like this. Utterly devastating scenes. He’s not going to be able to continue here. Heartbreaking pictures.”

The world No. 48 packed Cobolli’s bags for him, and continued to crouch down to check on his opponent, speaking to him about the issue. The 24-year-old had received an off-court medical timeout in his opening match just two days ago, and Lester and Ahl suggested he was struggling with a groin injury.

The tears kept falling as Cobolli stepped into the court to wave goodbye to the fans. Berrettini gave the fourth seed one last hug before he walked off the court, covering his face with a towel.

It’s been a career-best season for Cobolli, who reached a maiden Grand Slam final at Roland Garros this year. He also reached the semis of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati and hit a career-high of No. 6 in the world. The Italian is on the cusp of qualifying for the ATP Finals on home soil in Turin. It would be his debut at the season-ending championships. But it now remains to be seen whether he plays again in 2026.

Flavio Cobolli retired from the Vienna Open in tears (Image: Tennis TV)

Berrettini is now through to the quarter-finals, but looked equally as devastated for Cobolli despite advancing, and gave a moving post-match interview. “I’m so sorry for him. I’ve been there many times, maybe too many times. That’s why I got emotional. I know how rough it can be. I know how much he wants to be in Turin, and the last thing he wants is getting an injury a few weeks before. Hopefully, it’s going to be nothing too serious,” he said.

“The idea today was just to come on court and celebrate the journey that we are both having, you know, from Rome, small kids that were playing tennis on the weekends. I remember him, he was like this tall. I remember the day he chose playing tennis over football. I remember his eyes, the same eyes he has right now. This little kid was dreaming about playing on the best stages, and I think he deserves to be there, and I think he deserves the career he’s having so far.

“I wish him nothing but the best. I’m going to try to help him. I don’t know, in any way possible. I just told him to be in the moment, to not go too far ahead with his mind and thoughts. That’s what I was doing in the past and it wasn’t really helping me, so one day at a time. I’m sure he has great doctors that they’re going to follow his recovery, and hopefully he can make it in time.”

The Paris Masters kick off on Monday, but Cobolli’s biggest concern will be qualifying for the ATP Finals on home soil. Explaining the significance of competing in Turin, Berrettini added: “It’s a trophy even being there. After a great season, it’s probably the thing that still hurts the most in my career, not being able to finish the round-robin [in 2021] I remember the energy of that place, I remember the proudness of qualifying and feeling my people in the place.”