Flavio Cobolli Told Girlfriend Matilda Galli to 'Stay Home' Before French Open 2026
Italian tennis star Flavio Cobolli had a joking request for his long-time girlfriend, Matilda Galli: "Stay home."
According to Sports Illustrated, the comment came after Cobolli lost to Ben Shelton in the BMW Open Final. Galli did attend that match, although she doesn't attend many, and Cobolli made the comment, which was perceived as a joke.
Cobolli said, "Also, I called yesterday my girlfriend, and said, 'Please, don't let me lose.' But she does. So, maybe next final, you stay home." According to SI, that comment was made before the French Open 2026. Cobolli has also publicly praised his girlfriend. "I knew her when I was no one," Cobolli told ATPTour.com. "I was outside of this Tour, and I grew up completely here. I met her when I was 18, I was one-thousand-and-something in the world, and we're still together. So I think we found something that, of course, is working."
Flavio Cobolli's Girlfriend, Matilda Galli, Is a College Student Who Doesn't Attend His Matches Much
According to Sports Illustrated, "Cobolli is dating Matilda Galli. While these two have been together for a while, she's currently a student in college and therefore can't attend many of his matches."
SI noted: "She also doesn't appear to be at the French Open."
On June 6, an Instagram page reposted Cobolli's "stay home" comment. "Has she got a ticket for tomorrow, Flavio? " the page wrote, in advance of the French Open final between Cobolli and Zverev,. He commented, writing, "Maybe."
In an interview with ATP in April, Cobolli explained of his girlfriend, "I want to see her more than I see her now and to see her more at the tournaments with me. But I think the first goal for her is to finish studying and then we'll see after college if she can come more than she does now."
He added, "It is tough because we don't see each other a lot during the year because she's studying and I do this life ... And we always try to find a way to be together." Cobolli met Galli Cobolli "at his best friend's birthday party - Galli was there with his best friend's sister," according to the ATP Tour.
He added, "My best dream is watching her happy in what she does. Your family is very important because we spend our time really well, we do many things that we normally cannot do. So my dream is to have more time with her and to see her happy in whatever she does."
Flavio Cobolli Has Shared Photos Showing His Girlfriend on Social Media
Cobolli has opened up about his relationship on Instagram.
In July 2024, he shared a series photos showing him with Galli on his Instagram page and wrote, "Growing up together." The photo collage contained pictures of Galli and a video of them walking together.
However, that was a rare glimpse into the relationship. The Italian site Corriere emphasized described Cobolli and Galli as "young but also reserved. On social media, Flavio Cobolli does not publish many photos of his private life with his Matilde Galli."
They've dated probably since about 2021, the site noted, quoting him as saying at the 2025 French Open, "My whole family came here to Paris. It's very nice to play in front of those who love you. The only thing missing is my girlfriend Matilde, who has to take some exams."
In 2022, Cobolli posted a video showing him kissing Galli and wrote, "The best is yet to come."
According to Essentially Sports, Galli works for a law firm. Cobolli's recent photos focus on his tennis career.
"Parents are Francesca Neri and Stefano Cobolli. Has a sibling named Guglielmo," Cobolli's bio says.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 11:02 AM.