Cobolli, after facing Serena Williams: “She tried to intimidate me, but it didn't work.”
Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic had to dance last night with the most feared pairing in the mixed doubles draw of the US Open 2026. After defeating Alcaraz and Serena, both shared their impressions.
Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli are just one match away from competing in the mixed doubles final of the US Open. The pair, who had previously shared the court in Indian Wells, reunited six months later and did so in style, defeating the duo made up of Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams in an unforgettable day at Arthur Ashe.
The victory had a special ingredient, as they faced two names that represent completely different generations of tennis. As noted during the broadcast, they were up against the couple with 30 Grand Slams. For Cobolli, competing against the American was an experience he had never imagined. “I never expected in my life to play against Serena, it was something incredible,” acknowledged the Italian, who even had a fun exchange with the legend before the match.
The Day Serena Williams Tried to Intimidate Flavio Cobolli
The Italian recounted that Serena tried to make him nervous before stepping onto the court. How? By claiming to speak better Italian than he does. “She said she spoke Italian better than I do,” Cobolli explained with a laugh. A strategy that, according to him, did not work: “She tried to intimidate me before the match, but it didn’t work.” Bencic also described the experience of playing against Alcaraz as “surreal.” The Swiss player, who had faced Serena several times during her career, admitted that the Spaniard gave her a completely different feeling. “Sometimes I was at the net or on the return and thought: ‘How did I end up on this court?’. I don’t know,” she confessed.
The couple has also found a formula that works without establishing hierarchies. Cobolli joked that Bencic is “the boss,” although they both insisted that decisions are made jointly. “There is no leader in this duo, we make decisions together,” explained the Italian. Bencic particularly highlighted the communication they maintain during matches and their ability to anticipate each other’s movements. Part of that chemistry is also built before the matches, training together and understanding each other’s tendencies. “We just enjoy playing together,” the Swiss summarized.
The main problem for prolonging this partnership is that both have absolute priority on the individual circuit. Bencic believes that Cobolli, who is having a great season, should focus on his singles career, while the Italian shares the same view. For that reason, neither considers regularly competing in other Grand Slams as a pair. “If we have any opportunity to play doubles together, we play,” Cobolli explained.
Fortunately, this format of the US Open with the mixed event concentrated before the second week does allow them to compete without sacrificing their individual goals. However, for now, all that takes a back seat. “The tournament is not over yet,” Cobolli reminded. They have a semifinal left, and if they win again, they will have the chance to fight for a Grand Slam that started as a one-off adventure and may end up becoming something much bigger.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cobolli, tras enfrentarse a Serena Williams: “Intentó intimidarme, pero no funcionó”