Matteo Arnaldi’s dream run at the French Open came to an abrupt end on Friday after the Italian was forced to withdraw from his semifinal against compatriot Flavio Cobolli due to illness, handing the 10th seed a place in Sunday’s title clash against Alexander Zverev.
Arnaldi pulled out roughly 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the match on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Tournament organisers said the 25-year-old, ranked No. 104 in the world, had come down with a virus and was unable to take the court.
“It’s not what I wanted to do. Last night I started to feel unwell and then at dinner I started to feel so, so in my stomach and then I woke up at 1am and started vomiting,” Arnaldi told reporters.
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“I could not sleep at all. At 6-7 I vomited again and we called the doctor to the room and he gave me some stuff. But then throughout today I could not eat – every time I would eat or drink I would go back to the bathroom.”
The withdrawal denied fans a first-ever all-Italian men’s Grand Slam semifinal and brought the curtain down on one of the stories of the tournament. Arnaldi had arrived in Paris with little expectation but pieced together a remarkable run to reach the last four, becoming one of the surprise packages of the fortnight.
Under Grand Slam rules, a player who has already been eliminated from the main draw cannot replace a withdrawn semifinalist. As a result, Cobolli advanced directly to the final without striking a ball.
The walkover marked the first time a men’s Grand Slam semifinal has been decided in such circumstances since Wimbledon 2022, when Rafael Nadal withdrew before his semifinal against Nick Kyrgios because of an abdominal injury. Kyrgios subsequently reached the only Grand Slam final of his career, losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
For Cobolli, the development capped a breakthrough tournament. The Italian has enjoyed the best Grand Slam run of his career in Paris and now finds himself one win away from a maiden major title.
Tournament organisers confirmed that spectators holding tickets for the scheduled Arnaldi-Cobolli semifinal would be reimbursed following the late withdrawal.
The men’s final will now feature Zverev and Cobolli, with the Italian receiving an unexpected route into the biggest match of his career after Arnaldi’s illness brought an end to a memorable campaign in Paris.
ZVEREV RETURNS TO FINAL
Waiting for him in the final will be second seed Alexander Zverev, who earlier on Friday defeated Czech teenager Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the French Open final. The German is now one win away from a long-awaited maiden Grand Slam title.
The 29-year-old, who has lost three major finals, including at Roland Garros in 2024, produced another assured performance in Paris to book a second French Open title clash. He will face Flavio Cobolli in Sunday’s final after Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from the other semi-final due to illness.
“I knew that it would be my toughest challenge. I managed it and I won, so I’m happy,” said Zverev, who became only the fifth active player to reach multiple Roland Garros finals.
“It’s amazing the way he (Mensik) played these last two weeks, he beat so many unbelievable players. He started playing amazing in the third set, stepping up his level, but this is a Grand Slam with best-of-five-set matches.
“Things happen and your opponents will play better. You have to deal with it. I hope to play another great match on Sunday.”
A tight opening set on a sun-drenched Court Philippe Chatrier swung Zverev’s way in the 11th game when he struck a backhand crosscourt winner to earn a break point before forcing an error from Mensik to move ahead.
The world number three sealed the set with a booming ace and carried the momentum into the second, breaking early as Mensik’s level dipped during his first Grand Slam semi-final appearance.
The Czech youngster sat with a towel draped over his head during a changeover, and his difficulties worsened after the restart as Zverev raised his intensity, secured a second break and comfortably moved two sets ahead.
Mensik responded after a lengthy medical timeout for a neck issue. Mixing his powerful serve with well-executed drop shots, he broke for a 4-2 lead and claimed the third set to extend the contest.
But Zverev quickly regained control in the fourth, breaking at the first opportunity and never allowing his opponent a route back into the match as he moved one win away from a maiden major title.
Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the draw, will now have another chance to end his Grand Slam drought and finally lift the trophy that has so far eluded him.
– Ends
