Stefano, Flavio Cobolli‘s father, recently wrote an emotional letter after his son failed to qualify for the Olympics in Paris due to a late withdrawal from Jannik Sinner. He purposefully chose not to raise any issues with Sinner’s tardy decision or the contentious ITF regulations in favour of his son’s ambition to compete at the Games.

Sinner was expected to be Paris’s best seed. Because the singles draw only allows four of a nation’s best players to compete, and because of the fierce competition among the Italians (nine players in the top 100), Lorenzo Musetti, Luciano Darderi, and Matteo Arnaldi were able to join the World No. 1 in the main draw.

However, Italian team member Andrea Vavassori, a fellow countryman who was already playing in men’s and mixed doubles, took Jannik Sinner’s position after he withdrew from the event on July 24 due to tonsillitis.

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It is noteworthy that Flavio Cobolli, the fifth-ranked Italian in singles, would have assured his place in the Paris Olympics if Sinner had withdrew before July 19. Stefano, Cobolli’s father and coach, recently thought back on his son’s lost chance.

Since Flavio was the fifth, everything made sense. Good for Italy, which is having a wonderful time,” his father posted on Instagram regarding the Italian recovery.

Stefano also discussed the ITF regulation that forbids top-ranked singles players from competing after a specific cutoff point. Novak Djokovic is among the tennis players who have criticised the rule. The Serb deemed the rule to be nonsensical and detrimental to the sport.

“What prevented Flavio from entering in place of Jannik Sinner? Flavio Cobolli’s father clarified, “Because, once again, the regulation stipulates that an onsite player will take his position and not the player who follows him in the rankings if a qualifying player (in this case, Sinner) cancels after July 20th.

Keeping his composure, he stated:

“I think (Jannik Sinner) cancelled on July 23rd, which would have put Flavio in position to take over a few days later. In this instance as well, everything is OK. I’m not the person to debate or dispute over the legality of the rule or even why Sinner went over the deadline—he must have had good reason.”

The father of Flavio Cobolli turned his attention to his son’s ambition to compete in the Olympics in Paris and stated:

My mind is centred on Flavio. When I got back from the Croatia Open in Umag, Flavio told me something that made me happy and proud. “Pa, did you know that I would have traded my place in the Olympics for the win of a big ATP tournament?” he recalls.
“Well, this made me very proud because this means my family managed to pass on important sporting values to him,” he said. “It means that before feeling like a tennis player, you feel like an Italian athlete.”

Future Olympic glory for his son was something Stefano Cobolli wished for.

“You played and won ‘YOUR Olympics,’ Floriano, and I hope you fulfil your Olympic goal in the future. You are still young. “Come on!!!” he exclaimed, turning to face the 22-year-old.