Flavio Cobolli, the 24-year-old Italian tennis star, will rely on his girlfriend Matilde Galli's support from afar as she prioritises her medical studies over attending Wimbledon. Galli, who is training to become a sanitary director at a hospital, cannot be at SW19 due to her demanding academic schedule, including challenging examinations.
Cobolli and Galli's Long-Term Relationship
The couple met at a birthday party for one of Cobolli's friends when they were teenagers. Cobolli, now ranked world No. 10, recalled in an ATP interview in April: "I knew her when I was no one. I was outside of this Tour, and I grew up completely here. I met her when I was 18, I was one-thousand-and-something in the world, and we're still together."
Galli's career path differs from many tennis partners, as she focuses on healthcare rather than sports. Cobolli expressed his admiration: "My best dream is watching her happy in what she does. Your family is very important because we spend our time really well." He added that he tries to support her during stressful exam periods, though balancing tour life with home pressures is challenging.
Wimbledon Quarter-Final Match
Cobolli will face British qualifier Arthur Fery in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, aiming to reach his first Wimbledon semi-final. Last year, he lost to Novak Djokovic at the same stage. In the fourth round, Cobolli defeated Alex de Minaur 7-5, 7-6, 6-3, with de Minaur's fiancée Katie Boulter watching from the stands in an England football shirt.
After that victory, Cobolli revealed he had initially been unsure about accommodation for the rest of the tournament. "My grandfather help us to found a solution for tonight. But we found solution for all the week, I hope," he said. An Italian family offered him a house in Wimbledon, and he thanked them in advance.
Future Plans and Dreams
Cobolli, who was runner-up to Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros in June, hopes to spend more time with Galli in the future. "I love her a lot, and I think she also loves me. We are very young, but we already have a great experience to say that she's the one that I want to have for all my life," he said. Despite the difficulties of long-distance due to his tennis career and her studies, he remains optimistic about their relationship.
