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Cobolli topples Tien to break new ground

The Italian won the top-20 duel in just one hour and 46 minutes but has half an eye on Saturday night's football

Flavio Cobolli, R3, Roland-Garros 2026
©Cèdric Lecocq / FFT
 - Alex Sharp

Football fan Flavio Cobolli progressed to the Roland-Garros second week for the first time on a sunkissed Saturday afternoon in Paris.

The world No.14 dominated proceedings 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to halt American youngster Learner Tien in the opening match on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Cobolli will hope to extend his longest stay on the Paris clay with a last-16 clash with the USA's Zach Svajda.

“I woke up a little nervous today,” admitted Cobolli, a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon 2025. “I have many friends here, people that I love, so it’s always nice to play in front of them.

“It’s also the first match I won on a centre court at a Grand Slam, so it’s a very good day for me.

“I was born on clay, it’s my surface, so it’s the worst court for him to play with me. Today was my day… I’m very happy with my performance and how I won today.”

Tien had claimed a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2 victory in the only previous meeting with Cobolli last season in Beijing, China. The 20-year-old also arrived on court on a six-match winning streak after capturing his first clay-court title last week in Geneva.

However, Cobolli put in a clinical and complete performance.

The No.10 seed was reading the flight of Tien’s loopy strikes with ease, sprinting to unleash his laser-like forehand down the line. The variety, depth, and conviction in hitting overwhelmed Tien’s usually robust defence.

Flavio Cobolli / Roland-Garros 2026, simple messieurs / 3e tour
©Pierre Froger / FFT

Deep in the third set Cobolli capped a gruelling 27-shot rally with a wrong-footing forehand winner, raising his fist to the crowd in a signal of intent to his title rivals.

However, his attention swiftly turned to the UEFA Champions League final later on Saturday between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

“Today, I don’t want to talk about tennis, there is the final of the Champions League,” insisted Cobolli, an ardent AS Roma fan, who was a former youth player at the Serie A club.

“Football was my first passion, I played football before tennis and I played with Riccardo Calafiori. I also like PSG because I love Luis Enrique.

“I don’t know who I will cheer for. I’m going to cheer for the best match ever with more than one goal.”