MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

August 4, 2024

Flavio Cobolli

Press Conference

F. COBOLLI/B. Shelton

4-6, 7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: How are you feeling at the moment? Career milestone for you.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: I'm really happy. I'm really proud of myself. It was a very tough match, a great battle. It's always tough to play against Ben on this court, especially on hard court.

Yeah, I think I played a very good match. I match very well the energy because I did three great battles. I'm very proud and happy for this match. Now I think I'm ready for the next one.

I just want to wake up and play this final.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Quite the week, saving five match points, tiebreaks. How do you describe the week and what you've been able to accomplish?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: I think is my week. A little bit lucky. I don't know, I just play my game every match. I think you have to believe in yourself always. I did. I'm here, so I'm happy.

Q. How much more confident are you going into tomorrow's match than you would have been a few days ago?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: This match give me a lot of energy. I'm tired, but I think I can make a good final. Of course, it would be a tough match, especially against Seb. I lost against him in Rome.

I think I can make a good final and we will see tomorrow.

Q. After the match against Alejandro, longest match of the tournament, you were not in good shape after that match. Would you have thought at that point you had it in you to continue and make this run?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: That match was unbelievable. Against Alejandro in Wimbledon, right?

Q. Here.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Here? I thought was in Wimbledon, sorry.

Q. The one here.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: No, no, no. Also here, it was a great fight. It was little bit close from the loss. Yeah, before this tournament, I lost 12 tiebreak. Now in this tournament I won five tiebreak. I think is change something. I think is my week. I think this it.

Q. You seemed emotional after the match. You went over to your coach.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: I was shaking. Shaking for all the time. I can't describe the emotion because it's my first time everywhere. Every tournament is my first time. Every match is my first time. I can prove I can learn from every match. Just happy.

Q. Enjoying it?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Yeah.

Q. How did you spend the four-hour rain delay to keep yourself ready?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: I (indiscernible) for five.

No, nothing special. Ice bath. I drink a lot. Nothing special. I mean, I think is my body. I'm fit. I don't know.

Q. When you lost the first set, what was the mentality to turn the match around?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: When I'm in the court, I don't want to think about the score, I just want to play. I think when I'm in court, I feel I have one more shot. I try to take the first chance I can have. When I'm in the court, I just want to play my game.

Every match, at one point of the match I'm sure I can have one chance to come back, so... I try to play my game, and that's it.

Q. What do you expect tomorrow? Big stadium.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: First time. First time. No, I never play on center court. I cannot also warm up tomorrow on that court. We will see what's happen.