Cobolli withdraws from the Paris Masters, 13 days before the ATP Finals
The fifth seed, who retired in tears against Matteo Berrettini in Vienna last week, is replaced by lucky loser Thiago Agustin Tirante. Sixth in the Race to Turin, Cobolli will now only miss the ATP Finals if four players overtake him in Paris.
Flavio Cobolli, just before withdrawing, Rolex Paris Masters 2026 | © Baptiste Autissier / PsNewz
Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli has withdrawn from the Rolex Paris Masters, the tournament announced on Monday evening. Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante, a lucky loser from qualifying, takes his place in the draw.
Cobolli had appeared on Court Central earlier in the evening, alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Holger Rune and Rafael Jodar, for a ceremony marking the 40th birthday of the Rolex Paris Masters. The announcement of his withdrawal came just after.
The Italian retired in tears in the second round in Vienna last Thursday, trailing his friend Matteo Berrettini 5-2 in the first set after 41 minutes. He had beaten Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in his opening match there. Afterwards, he said his tears came from emotion rather than pain, and that he expected to play in Paris.
Tirante inherits his first-round bye and will face Jan-Lennard Struff or French wildcard Arthur Gea, who play on Tuesday, in the second round.
The withdrawal also opens up the section of ninth seed Rafael Jodar, who could have met Cobolli in the third round. Jodar first plays Casper Ruud in the second round, and the winner will face Tirante, Struff or Gea for a place in the quarter-finals.
Cobolli’s place in the ATP Finals now in other players’ hands
The Italian came to Paris sixth in the Race to Turin with 3,690 points, the best placed of the contenders for the last four places at the Nitto ATP Finals. A run to the quarter-finals would have guaranteed his debut at the event, in his home country.
He now stays on 3,690 points and will miss out only if four players pass him this week. Arthur Fils would overtake him by reaching the quarter-finals, Frances Tiafoe by reaching the semi-finals, Jodar and Alex de Minaur by reaching the final, and Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul by winning the title.
Cobolli has been named in Italy’s squad for the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna, alongside Lorenzo Musetti and Luciano Darderi.
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