Cobolli using Nadal’s shower in bid for French Open gloryImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, It is the first time Cobolli has defeated a top-10 ranked opponent at a majorByEmily Salley, BBC Sport journalist and Phil Cartwright, BBC Sport journalistPublished3 June 2026, 19:52 BSTUpdated 2 minutes agoFlavio Cobolli is two wins away from clinching a maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open and he is doing everything he can to make it happen – including using 14-time champion Rafael Nadal’s favoured shower cubicle at Roland Garros.The 24-year-old beat Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets to reach a major semi-final for the first time in his career.The 10th seed will play fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi on Friday for a place in Sunday’s final.Arnaldi was on the brink of a two-set lead against compatriot Matteo Berrettini when the former Wimbledon finalist retired from their quarter-final because of a hip injury.Having revealed several superstitions in his on-court interview – thanking the crowd in French, maintaining the same racquet tension no matter the conditions and keeping the same post-match routine – Cobolli was asked about them in his press conference.”I’m a little bit [superstitious] but not crazy – this week I’m a little bit more crazy than the others,” he reported. “I just go to the same restaurant, the same menu, the same shower.”Cobolli then recalled a moment at a previous French Open when he was using the shower and Nadal knocked on the door asking him to hurry up because he was waiting to use that particular cubicle.”He told me that it was his shower since 14 years,” continued Cobolli. “So I think the best thing that I’m doing is the shower.”Cobolli recovered from losing the first set to beat Auger-Aliassime 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 and he will make his top-10 debut on Monday if Jakub Mensik, who faces Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final, fails to win the title in Paris.Arnaldi’s win in Wednesday’s night session means an Italian finalist is guaranteed, even after the shock second-round exit of overwhelming favourite Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti being ruled out of the tournament because of injury.
