Italian tennis player Flavio Cobolli, fresh off a run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, made an unusual on-court appeal to spectators on No. 1 Court, asking if anyone in the crowd might have a house available for him and his team. The plea came after a mix-up with his accommodation arrangements in southwest London.
Cobolli, who has reached the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, admitted during his post-match interview that his plans for recovery were uncertain because he had no place to stay. "I hope that I can go early to the house," Cobolli said. "But first we have to find one because actually we don't have a house."
He later revealed to the media that an Italian family had stepped in to offer him and his team a house for the week, resolving the accommodation crisis. "My grandfather helped us to find a solution for tonight," Cobolli explained, "But we found a solution for all the week, I hope."
This is not the first time Cobolli has faced housing issues in London during the tournament. Last year, his contract for a rental property was not renewed, forcing him to move. "Last year I had problems. This year I have problems," he noted before his third-round match.
Cobolli's strong performance at Wimbledon has guaranteed him a minimum of £480,000 in prize money. Wimbledon increased its prize pot by 20% this year, with the total now standing at £64.2 million, and a first-round loser receives £80,000.
The 24-year-old player is known for his candid interviews and distinctive on-court celebrations. Following his victory over Alex de Minaur, Cobolli performed Cristiano Ronaldo's signature "siu" celebration. He has previously used celebrations from other athletes, including Matheus Cunha, and has expressed his admiration for Ronaldo, stating he would cheer for Portugal in their matches due to the player.
Cobolli, who was part of AS Roma's youth academy before focusing on tennis, remains connected to his former sporting peers. He has also been open about personal challenges during the tournament, including stomach issues that affected his play in an earlier match.