Flavio Cobolli beat world number 36 Sebastian Baez 6-4 6-4 to win the first ATP Tour title of his career at the Ion Tiriac Open in Bucharest in very cold weather conditions.
Cobolli becomes the eighth active Italian ATP Tour champion. He achieved the 100th title in history by an Italian player in an ATP tournament.
Cobolli dropped his first set of the week against Richard Gasquet but he did not lose another en route to becoming the first Italian player to win this tournament. He has moved to world number 36 in the ATP Ranking.
Cobolli earned his first break in the third game of the first set, but Baez broke straight back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Cobolli broke for the second time in the seventh game and held on his next service games to win the first set.
Cobolli led by a double break in the third and seventh games to open up a 5-2 lead. Baez saved three match points on Cobolli’s serve at 5-2. Cobolli let slip three more championships points on return at 5-3. Cobolli hit a lob on his seventh championship point after 1 hour and 46 minutes.
Cobolli won 74% on his first serve points compared to just 53% for Baez.
“I feel great. I feel happy. It’s a big dream come true for my career. I always dreamed of winning an ATP tournament and it has happened today. I’m really happy to be here and to have reached my best result ever. I came from a tough moment. I had not won a match, before this tournament, this year, and I won the tournament. So I’m really happy about it. To play against Seb on clay is always tough. For me he is one of the best players on clay right now. He already won many titles on it, so it’s a great fight and a great day for me. I was coming from a difficult moment, but something changed in the last few weeks.”, said Cobolli.
Cobolli started his sports career with football and played in the Roma Youth team until he was 13.
“I was a full-back who ran a lot but I was afraid of tackles. I chose to leave football due to my preference for winning on my own. I have remained good friend of football player Edoardo Bove. My favourite player is Novak Djokovic. I would like to challenge him on the court. I also admire Taylor Fritz.
The great weekend for Italian tennis was completed by Luciano Darderi, who beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) after 2 hour and 4 minutes on the same day to secure his second title after his win in Cordoba in 2024. Griekspoor had won his previous two matches against Darderi.
Darderi saved three of the four break points he faced. The Italian player of Italian origin has moved to world number 48 in the ATP Ranking. Darderi earned the first break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead, but Griekspoor broke straight back at love to draw level to 5-5 after Darderi made a double fault. Darderi won five of the last six points to claim the tie-break 7-3.
Griekspoor did not convert two break points in the third game of the second set. The Dutchman improved on his own service games, winning 76% of his service points in the first four games.
Grieksppor earned another break point in the 11th game at 5-5, but Darderi fought his way to winning a crucial game. Griekspoor went up 40-0, but Darderi got back to deuce before forcing the set to a second tie-break. Darderi earned the first mini-break after six points. Darderi earned his first of three Championships points with an unforced error and an ace. Darderi sealed the win on his second match point with a forehand winner.
Darderi arrived in Marrakesh with 3-8 record this year but he showed signs of improvement when he reached the final at the ATP Challenger in Naples. Darderi has become the second Italian player to win the Marrakesh title in as many years after Matteo Berrettini, who won this tournament in 2024.
“The past months were really difficult for me, but I fought every day for this moment. It is my second title. My first time in Marrakech, it’s an amazing place. I’m very happy and I have to say thank you to all the Italians here and all the people watching. It is very nice to play with this atmosphere”, said Darderi.
