PARIS – Roland Garros was Rafael Nadal’s “domain” from 2005 to 2024, and even into 2025, with the tournament organising a memorable farewell ceremony for him. But the Spaniard is always present: if not through the premiere of his Netflix docuseries right in the middle of the tournament’s first week, then through memories.
“I tried to steal his shower and he knocked on the door,” revealed the Italian Flavio Cobolli, the surprise semi-finalist at the French Open, on Wednesday.
What was Cobolli, who beat Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and 6-4, referring to?
The Italian was talking about his superstitions, all the routines and places he sticks to in order to maintain the winning streak that has taken him to the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time in his life.
And then Nadal, on his 40th birthday, reappeared at Roland Garros, the tournament he has won 14 times.
“I go to the same restaurant, eat the same food, use the same shower. I’m using the same shower that Rafa used.”
When Cobolli, aged 24 and ranked 14th in the world, began to rise through the ranks, Nadal has already retired from tennis, but the Italian and the Spaniard did face each other once, with the Mallorcan winning in the first round of Barcelona 2024.
In other words, they know each other. At one of the Spaniard’s last Roland Garros tournaments, Cobolli tried to take over the shower that was, in fact, Nadal’s. That’s where he showered; there, he had total priority.
But the Italian went in anyway, until a couple of minutes later he felt a couple of taps.
“He told me I had to hurry up because he was waiting (to shower). He told me it had been his shower for 14 years. So I think what I’m best at is showering,” he said with a laugh.
Cobolli, a passionate, fiery player, is one of the standouts in the large contingent of successful Italians on the circuit.
One of them will be in the final on Sunday 7 June. It could be Cobolli or it could be Matteo Arnaldi, who beat Matteo Berrettini 7-5, 5-2 before Berrettini retired.
“I think we should be happy that, apart from (Jannik) Sinner and Lorenzo (Sonego), there are other Italians in the final this week.”
‘Have you already imagined yourself winning the tournament?’ they asked the blue-eyed Roman, this year’s champion at the ATP 500 in Acapulco.
‘Not yet, I just want to focus on the next match. But I know I’m close—just two matches away—but it’s a long road.’
