Not every match is won on the scoreboard. Some are conquered in silence, in the eyes that don’t drop, in the steady walk after a mistake. Andrea Collarini, the “fashion gladiator” crossing the Atlantic with his racquet and psychedelic outfit, lost in Torino with a double 6-7 to Flavio Cobolli. But he didn’t walk away defeated — he walked away wiser.
Because losing like that, in two breathless tie-breaks, isn’t a failure. It’s an accelerated masterclass in keeping your nerves when the crowd cheers for someone else. It’s proof that the level is there, close, waiting.
Collarini played with his soul. Every serve had the energy of a debut. Every return, a touch of that epic melancholy he brings to the court. There were hard rallies, breathtaking points, and the occasional bitter smile at the scoreboard. But never resignation. And that’s worth more than a ranking.
“Not today,” he might’ve said. But also, “I’m getting closer.” Because some defeats teach more than a hundred wins. And if there’s something Andrea proves — beyond style — it’s that he knows how to stumble without falling. Sometimes, that stumble is the first step forward.
© 2025 By Pepe Offside. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2025 SportJournal.pictures/SalaStampa.eu, world press service Guzzo Photos & Graphic Publications – Registro Editori e Stampatori n. 1441 Torino, Italia
