Paris 2024 Olympics, dad Cobolli vents after Jannik Sinner’s forfeit
Jannik Sinner’s forfeit continues to cause discussion. In particular, it was Flavio Cobolli, a reserve player who, by rule, did not take over because any tennis player withdrawn from the singles draw after July 19 (to the world number one è it happened on the 23rd) would be replaced by another already entered in the doubles.
Throwing gasoline on the fire was taken care of via Instagram by Stefano Cobolli, the papà of the only top 50 left out of the Games: "I take advantage of this week of rest of mine to do a little reflection. Many people have written to me in the past few days about the Olympics; about whyé Flavio could not participate despite his top 50 ranking (the only one in the world to be excluded). The rules speak clearly: each nation canò bring its best 4 singles players. Flavio was the fifth, so, all regular. Good for’Italy, which is enjoying a magical moment".
"Whyé Flavio did not è enter instead of Sinner? Becauseé again, the rules state that if a qualified player (in this case Sinner) cancels after July 20, at that point an onsite player enters in his place and not the player following him in the standings. Sinner è cancelled, I believe, on July 23 and thus a few days after the deadline that would have allowed Flavio to take over. Again, all regular. I am certainly not arguing or polemicizing on the question of whether the regulations are right or wrong; nor’ whyé Sinner passed the deadline: he will have had his reasons. Instead, my thoughts focus on Flavio".
"Upon returning from Umag Flavio said a sentence to me that made me proud, made me proud and made me feel good. “Pa’, do you know that I would have traded winning a major ATP tournament in exchange for participating in the Olympics?’”.
Mind you, not winning the Olympics but participating! Well, that made me very proud becauseé then my family è managed to transfer important sports values to him. Thinking about and recognizing the Olympics as the highest sporting achievement, representing one’s country, coming from a tennis player, it means so much to me. It means to say that before he feels like a tennis player, he feels like an Italian athlete. My thoughts at that moment è went to my grandfather Giorgio, a gold medalist for military valor, ISTRIAN and with immense patriotic values, as did my father. Flavio, with that sentence, for me the ‘YOUR Olympics’ you played and won them; you are young and I wish you to achieve your Olympic dream in the future. Daje!!!".
