Luca Nardi wins derby with Cobolli: surprise at internationals

Luca Nardi defeated Flavio Cobolli in the Italian derby of the first round of the Internazionali d’Italia 2025, played on Thursday, May 8, at the Foro Italico in Rome. The match ended with a clear 6-3, 6-4 in favor of the Pesaro-based tennis player, who qualified for the second round of the ATP 1000 tournament.

The first set was balanced until 3-3, when Nardi wrested the serve from Cobolli, leading 4-3. From that moment, the young blue took control of the game, closing the partial with the score of 6-3. In the second set, Nardi went down a bit, letting Cobolli back in. The class of 2003, however, managed to hold on to the break lead, consolidating the advantage until the 6-4 final.

This victory represents an’important affirmation for Nardi, who showed solid form and great determination. The next opponent will be Alex de Minaur, the tournament’s number 7 seed, with whom he will face next Saturday. It will be a challenging test for Nardi, but his performance against Cobolli showed that he is ready to compete at the highest level.

For Cobolli, however, it was a disappointment, especially considering that he was playing at home. Despite the effort, the Roman tennis player was unable to express his best tennis and succumbed under the pressure of Nardi. However, both players showed great sportsmanship and mutual respect, confirming the good spirit that characterizes Italian tennis.