For many players on the tour, sharing the court with Carlos Alcaraz is not just a luxury, it's also a grueling sporting experience. Flavio Cobolli, one of the great promises of Italian tennis, has described two hours of training with the Murcian as feeling like only twenty minutes , a sensation that sums up the pace, intensity, and level of concentration required to work alongside the Spaniard.
The Italian has chosen Murcia as part of his preseason base , coinciding with a period of significant changes in Alcaraz's life as he prepares for the upcoming Australian Open following his professional split with Juan Carlos Ferrero. In this context, the sessions they have shared have become a focal point of the European circuit, both for what they mean to Cobolli and for how the world number one continues to refine his game.
A training session with Alcaraz that flies by
In interviews with Italian and European media outlets, such as RAI's 'TG1' and several specialized websites, Cobolli has repeatedly stated the same idea: two hours of training with Alcaraz feels incredibly short . When the session is with another player, he says he notices the passage of time much more, but with the player from Murcia, the intensity and dynamism of the game make the physical and mental workload seem lighter.
The Italian explains that the speed of the ball, the pace of the rallies, and Alcaraz's constant aggression demand complete concentration from the very first point. Far from being a burden, this gives him the feeling that the training session is slipping through his fingers, as if he's been on the court for much less time than the clock indicates.
Beyond the sensations, Cobolli emphasizes that it's not just about hitting the ball hard, but about understanding how Alcaraz decides each play : when he goes up to the net, when he opts for the drop shot, how he varies heights and spins, or how he changes the rhythm to unsettle the opponent.
As he has stated in several interviews, the Spaniard's advice comes both directly and implicitly . Sometimes the Murcian player tells him specific details about his positioning on the court or his shot choices; other times, simply by observing his playing patterns, Cobolli feels he is incorporating new automatic movements into his own tennis.
Alcaraz's new era and a valuable ally in preseason
These training sessions in Murcia come at a crucial time for the team. After ending a successful seven-year spell with Juan Carlos Ferrero , Alcaraz has opted to consolidate Samuel López as head coach, supported by a core group that remains virtually unchanged.
Key figures surrounding the Spaniard include physical trainer Alberto Lledó, physiotherapist Juanjo Moreno, his manager Albert Molina, and his brother Álvaro , a regular presence at many tournaments. This entire technical and personal team has been fully committed to the first week of preseason, during which López himself highlighted the group's "hard work and dedication."
In a message shared on social media, the coach emphasized that the team has started with positive feelings, enthusiasm, ambition, and a clear desire to continue improving . The idea is to use every day before the start of the Australian tour to refine details, strengthen their physical condition, and arrive at the Australian Open with maximum confidence.
In this context, facing a young, fit, and aggressive player like Cobolli is a top-level sparring partner . It not only helps Alcaraz maintain a competitive edge in every session, but also allows the Italian to test himself, almost daily, against the highest standard on the tour.
Cobolli, from promise to reality after his best year
The Florentine's presence during the Murcian's preseason training is no coincidence. Flavio Cobolli arrives at the end of this year after the best season of his career , establishing himself as one of the great talents emerging from Italian and European tennis. He has won significant ATP titles, such as those in Hamburg and Bucharest, in addition to becoming an essential player in Italy's recent Davis Cup victory.
In the last edition of the competition, he assumed responsibilities in the absence of figures like Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti . Despite the pressure, he responded by winning every match he played and closing out ties in favor of his country, including a decisive victory against Jaume Munar in the final held in Bologna, which earned him the status of a national hero among Italian fans.
On an individual level, he finished the season firmly within the ATP Top 20 , ranked close to 22nd in the world, with a widespread feeling that he is far from reaching his full potential. His progress in major tournaments, including strong results in historic events like Wimbledon, reinforces his potential to advance to the later rounds.
This growth explains why, looking ahead to next season, he will be seeded at the Australian Open . It will be an important test to see if he can maintain that level against the best in a Grand Slam that traditionally demands an extra level of physical fitness due to the heat and court conditions.
Room for improvement and the goal of getting closer to Sinner
Despite the results, Cobolli maintains a very cautious stance regarding his own performance. In more than one interview, he has indicated that, according to his team, he needs to improve "in every aspect ." He considers himself strong in several facets of the game, but insists that there is ample room to refine technical, tactical, and mental aspects.
The Italian acknowledges that he still lacks consistency in key moments of big matches and admits that he needs to continue improving his handling of important points, his ability to read opponents, and his consistency throughout the season . He is currently learning a great deal in these weeks, facing Alcaraz's demands day after day.
As for his role models, Cobolli doesn't hide the mirror he looks up to: Jannik Sinner, the current leader of Italian tennis and Alcaraz's direct rival at the top of the circuit . The young Florentine says he works every day with the intention of getting closer to his compatriot's level, although he insists that, for now, the gap between them is still very large.
“We have to be realistic,” he has explained more than once, making it clear that his goal is to gradually close that gap , not close it all at once. The high-level training routine, the experience gained in major tournaments, and the exposure to players like Alcaraz are all part of that medium- and long-term plan.
A close relationship and mutual benefits on the track
The chemistry between Cobolli and Alcaraz goes way back. They've shared many weeks on the circuit since their junior years , and over time they've turned that good relationship into a habit: meeting up every preseason to train together, first at the Villena academy and now in Murcia.
The Italian admits that the trip to Spain isn't just for friendship. Beyond the good atmosphere, the laughter between exercises, and the feeling of being comfortable, the biggest draw is the amount he learns every day . For him, the fact that the sessions "fly by" is almost a sign that he's completely immersed in the work.
For their part, Alcaraz's team values having a young, competitive opponent who is still developing in training. Facing a player who is coming off a remarkable season and wants to take another step forward helps the Murcian player maintain his motivation and focus, even away from official competition.
At a time when Alcaraz faces the challenge of managing his first major professional break and consolidating a new technical dynamic with Samuel López, enjoying a close, demanding and stable work environment in Murcia can be crucial to making the transition as smooth as possible.
Everything surrounding these sessions in Murcia paints an interesting picture for European tennis: Alcaraz is preparing to attack the only Grand Slam missing from his record while testing a new cycle in his career, while Cobolli is making the most of every minute of training to close the gap with the big names on the circuit and definitively consolidate his place among the elite.