ALMATY/STARNBERG, October 15, 2025

Flavio Cobolli became the first seeded player to reach the quarterfinals at the Almaty Open after a straight-sets win over Australian lucky loser Rinky Hijikata on Wednesday. The third favourite at the ATP 250 tournament in Kazakhstan needed just one hour and 16 minutes to secure a 6-4, 7-5 victory.

After the match, Cobolli reflected on the level of competition this week and his impressions of the event.

“Thank you. I think it’s a very strong tournament, with great players like Karen, Luciano, and Daniel,” he told KTF Media. “For an ATP 250, the level is really high. It’s a very well-organised event, and it’s a pleasure to play here. The courts are excellent, the atmosphere is great, and I’m really enjoying the week. It’s one of the last tournaments of the season, so I want to make the most of it. I hope to come back and play here for many more years.”

Italian tennis is enjoying a golden era, with several players inside the Top 100 and Jannik Sinner closing in on the No. 1 spot. Cobolli is proud to be part of this new generation.

“Italian tennis is really living a great moment. We have many players inside the Top 100, and of course Jannik, who is now No. 2 and very close to No. 1. He has been a big inspiration for all of us. Watching him and also Lorenzo motivates me every day to give my best and try to reach the level they have achieved in recent years,” Cobolli explained.

“I believe the Federation has also done an excellent job. Since we were young, they have invested a lot in us, giving us the best opportunities to grow. We’re very grateful for that support, and we try to show our appreciation by playing our best tennis every week.”

Although Italy’s federation has played a key role in developing many of its stars, Cobolli revealed he mostly trained at home during his junior years.

“I mainly trained at my home club in Italy. I would go to the Federation centre just a few days each year so they could check our progress, but I never practised there full-time. My main base was always at home.”

Cobolli will now look to continue his strong run in Almaty as he targets a place in the semifinals. Up next will be Australian qualifier James Duckworth.

Day 6️⃣ • 16 October • MAIN DRAW#AlmatyOpen #ATP250

Live on: https://t.co/V1rsBrEtfl, https://t.co/adNNYRuEn5, Qazsport and Sport+.@almatyopen • #AlmatyOpen • #ATP250 pic.twitter.com/b7S3LwIZZG

— AlmatyOpen (@AlmatyOpen_KZ) October 15, 2025