Doubts over Flavio Cobolli’s ATP Finals debut were cast after he was forced to retire from his second-round match with Matteo Berrettini at the Vienna Open due to injury.
Cobolli was in tears after he called a halt to the contest with his Italian compatriot when trailing 5-2 in the first set. The 24-year-old, who made his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros earlier this year, took to social media after the retirement to reveal that he had ‘felt something’ and simply could not continue without pushing it too far.
On Friday, Cobolli issued another update on his Instagram story to further explain the injury setback.
Flavio Cobolli delivers update on his injury ahead of Paris Masters
“Today’s scans showed a minor muscle strain,” said Cobolli. “Tomorrow I’ll travel to Paris and do everything I can to play the tournament. I’m working with my team to get back to full fitness as soon as possible and be ready for the weeks ahead.”
Cobolli is very close to officially confirming his spot in the ATP Finals lineup for the first time in his career. He is currently fifth in the race to Turin, where the year-end tournament is held, and will likely qualify if he plays at the Paris Masters; the final ATP Masters 1000 event of the year.
Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton and Daniil Medvedev have all officially secured their spots at the ATP Finals. As it stands, Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar are set to join them in the lineup.
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But the likes of Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are all pushing, and they will all be in action at the Paris Masters to pick up the points needed for ATP Finals qualification. Djokovic is in danger of failing to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2017, and only the second time since his ATP Finals debut in 2007.
Cobolli is set to become one of four ATP Finals debutants, along with Jodar, Fils and Tiafoe. The French Open runner-up has enjoyed his best season to date, having also won his third ATP title at the Mexican Open.
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