Just minutes before the start of the second men’s semifinal, Italian Matteo Arnaldi has been forced to withdraw from his semifinal match against fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli due to a viral illness.
In one of the highest stakes pre-match withdrawals in recent tennis memory, Arnaldi was unable to take the court for the semifinal, sending Cobolli through to his first-ever Major final.
Matteo Arnaldi Withdraws From French Open Semifinal
Ranked No. 104 in the world entering the tournament, Arnaldi had spent more than 20 hours on court across his five matches. His remarkable run included a match-of-the-tournament contender against American Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, as well as another grueling five-set battle against Raphael Collignon.
The French Open announced that all spectators holding tickets for the second men’s semifinal would receive a full refund, as the tournament, already affected by several high-profile withdrawals and early exits, suffered another significant blow with a semifinal not being played.
Although the nature of the illness has not yet been revealed, there had been concerns that the immense amount of time Arnaldi spent on court throughout the fortnight could take a physical toll. Unfortunately, he will now be unable to complete what had been one of the most inspiring runs of the tournament.
Cobolli Through to First Slam Final
While this is not the way Cobolli would have wanted to reach his first Slam final, his level throughout the tournament has been worthy of a deep run, especially given the volatile nature of the event so far.
Cobolli will now face Alexander Zverev in the final. The pair have already met twice this season, splitting those encounters one apiece, setting up a fascinating battle for the championship.
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
