Cabal/Farah look back on maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Rome: "Winning there was like getting the monkey off our back because we'd been coming up short"

Saturday, 16 May 2020 at 14:42

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah emerged fully at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome back in 2018 claiming their first Masters 1000 title and as a result for both players in reflection, it has become a special place.

With it being one for them where it all began and not only for the tennis but for Rome as a whole which they both admire.

"We had important moments at those events, but we came up short of winning," said Cabal to ATPTour.com.

"We love Rome,” Farah said. "We like going out and exploring the streets, slipping down an unknown alley, discovering hidden and unknown restaurants. We like walking and eating great food. We also play very well there. It suits us because we come into it in form at that point of the clay swing and Sebas and I are good on clay.”

"Rome is special for us," Cabal continued. "Even though we lost in the first round in the early years, we always played well there. Everything was in place for that to be the case. We love Italy. It's one of our favourite countries. Rome has a unique atmosphere and the venue is special, the courts are spectacular and they are always full. That makes it even more special.”

"Rome is where everything exploded. Winning there was like getting the monkey off our back because we'd been coming up short in those types of tournaments. We had already won ATP 250 and ATP 500 titles. We thought that we were ready to win any tournament. But it wasn't easy. And when we freed ourselves from that burden, we thought, 'Now we need a Grand Slam."

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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