Italy’s Flavio Cobolli celebrated his biggest Wimbledon victory in memorable fashion on Monday by recreating Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic “Siu” celebration after defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur to reach the quarter-finals of the grass-court Grand Slam.
Cobolli produced an impressive straight-sets win, beating the fifth seed 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to book a place in the last eight for the second successive year.
The 23-year-old sealed victory in style with a powerful 135 mph first serve down the T on match point, leaving De Minaur with little chance of returning it effectively. The Australian managed only a weak reply that failed to cross the service line, allowing Cobolli to celebrate immediately by leaping into the air and pumping his fist before greeting his opponent at the net. Moments later, he delighted spectators by returning to the centre of the court to perform Ronaldo’s trademark mid-air spin and landing pose.
Cobolli’s celebration quickly caught the attention of fans inside the All England Club and on social media, where the football-inspired moment drew widespread appreciation. Ronaldo’s “Siu” celebration has become one of the most recognisable victory gestures in world sport, with athletes from different disciplines frequently recreating it after major achievements. Cobolli’s version added a football flavour to one of tennis’ most prestigious tournaments.
The victory marked another significant milestone in Cobolli’s rapidly developing career. Defeating a top-five seed in straight sets at Wimbledon underlined the Italian’s growing confidence on grass courts. Throughout the match, Cobolli displayed aggressive baseline play, served consistently well and handled pressure during the crucial second-set tie-break before closing out the contest in the third set.
For De Minaur, the defeat ended hopes of another deep run at Wimbledon despite entering the tournament as one of the favourites. The Australian fought hard during the opening two sets but struggled to contain Cobolli’s powerful serving and shot-making in key moments. The Italian capitalised on his opportunities and maintained his composure to complete one of the standout performances of his campaign.
Cobolli’s progress to the Wimbledon quarter-finals continues Italy’s strong presence in men’s tennis in recent years, with the country producing several players capable of challenging at the highest level. As he prepares for another major test in the last eight, his emphatic win and Ronaldo-inspired celebration have already become one of the tournament’s most memorable moments, highlighting the growing crossover between football and tennis celebrations on the biggest sporting stages.