Cinà takes a giant step in his progression: "I managed to overcome my major weakness"

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Federico Cinà experienced one of the most important days of his still young professional career at Roland Garros 2026. The young Italian player secured his first Grand Slam victory in Paris after a demanding five-set battle with Opelka, a match that tested both his physical endurance and mental strength.

After the match, Federico Cinà appeared emotionally at the press conference, emphasizing that the triumph exceeded even his own expectations. The 19-year-old Italian spoke about how he managed the pressure in crucial moments, explained the mental work he put in to stay focused during the fifth set, and shared reflections about his personality off the court and the incredible atmosphere during his victorious debut at Roland Garros.

This is what Federico Cinà said after opening his Grand Slam victories account

The thrill of winning his first Grand Slam match

"I am very happy because it was a truly tough match. Honestly, I did not expect to feel such energy or experience something like this so soon. It's amazing to play and win for the first time at Roland Garros. These are the moments I train and work hard for every day."

"I always imagined that my first significant victory could happen in an atmosphere like this, although I obviously didn't know if it would really come true."

How he mentally handled the fifth set

"After the fourth set, I had many thoughts because I was leading 4-1 in the tie-break and he played very well to catch up. But I quickly reminded myself that it was my first time at Roland Garros and there was still a whole set ahead, so there was no point in dwelling on the fourth set. I simply tried to enjoy the fifth set, and in the end, everything turned out well."

Pride in his physical and mental resilience

"I am very pleased with how I managed the match physically, but especially mentally. I didn't panic in tough moments and I think I handled virtually the entire situation very well."

"One of my weaknesses is that sometimes I have lows during matches, but today I managed to stay very alert and focused for a long time."

The key moment saving a 0-40 in the final set

"In that game, my team tried to encourage me a lot. I simply focused to the maximum and stopped thinking about the score or everything that was happening around me."

"I was thinking point by point. I served very well at that moment, hit an ace, and then another great serve at 30-40. My concentration was at its peak, and I didn't let my emotions distract me, even though the crowd was fully fired up at that moment. In those five points, I gave absolutely everything I had."

His view on the second round

"Both potential opponents have higher rankings than me, so I have a lot of respect for them. One of them is a champion I used to watch constantly when I was young, and the other is also a very strong player on the circuit. Whoever it is, it will be a very tough match, and I will try to prepare as best as I can."

Federico Cinà off the court

"I am quite a calm guy, and I think that reflects on the court as well. Outside of tennis, I really enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I like to relax and lead a fairly ordinary life. I'm not into big extravagances; I'm a calm and polite person."

With just a few years on the professional circuit, Federico Cinà already knows what it means to win a Grand Slam match at Roland Garros. In Paris, the Italian made it clear that, apart from tennis, he possesses a mental maturity and competitive calm rarely seen in a player of his age. His next opponent will come from the clash between Wawrinka and De Jong.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cinà da un paso de gigante en su progresión: "Conseguí superar mi gran punto débil"