The virus drove Arnaldi out and set up a Zverev vs Cobolli French Open final
Matteo Arnaldi’s dream run at the French Open came to an abrupt end on Friday after the Italian pulled out of his semi-final against compatriot Flavio Cobolli due to illness, giving 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 at Court Philippe-Chatrier. Tournament organizers said the 25-year-old, ranked 104th in the world, had contracted a virus and was unable to take the court.
“It’s not what I wanted to do. Last night I started feeling sick and then at dinner I started feeling like that, so in my stomach and then I woke up at 1 in the morning and started throwing up,” Arnaldi told reporters.
2026 French Open Semi Finals Update
“I couldn’t sleep at all. I threw up again at 6-7 and we called the doctor into the room and he gave me some stuff. But then I couldn’t eat all day today – every time I ate or drank I went back to the bathroom.”
The withdrawal denied fans a first-ever all-Italian semi-final at a men’s Grand Slam and brought down the curtain on one of the tournament’s storylines. Arnaldi arrived in Paris with little expectation but put together a remarkable run to reach the last four and become one of the surprise packages of the fortnight.
According to Grand Slam rules, a player who has already been eliminated from the main draw cannot replace a withdrawn semifinalist.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 hitting a ball.
The switch marked the first time a men’s Grand Slam semi-final has been decided under such circumstances since Wimbledon 2022, when Rafael Nadal withdrew ahead of his semi-final against Nick Kyrgios with an abdominal injury. Kyrgios subsequently reached the only Grand Slam final of his career, losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
A breakthrough tournament capped off Cobolli’s development. The Italian enjoyed the best Grand Slam race of his career in Paris and is now one win away from his first major title.
Tournament organizers have confirmed that spectators with tickets for the scheduled Arnaldi-Cobolli semi-final will be refunded after the late withdrawal.
The men’s final will now feature Zverev and Cobolli, with the Italian unexpectedly making it into the biggest match of his career after Arnaldi’s illness ended a memorable campaign in Paris.
ZVEREV RETURNS TO THE FINALS
In the final, second seed Alexander Zverev will be waiting for him, who defeated the Czech teenager Jakub Menšík 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Friday and reached the final of the French Open. The German is now one win away from her long-awaited first Grand Slam title.
The 29-year-old, who has lost three major finals, including at Roland Garros in 2024, produced another confident performance in Paris to book his second French Open title. He will face Flavio Cobolli in Sunday’s final after Matteo Arnaldi pulled out of the second semi-final due to illness.
“I knew it would be my toughest challenge. I did 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 how (Mensik) played the last two weeks, he beat so many incredible players. He started playing amazing in the third set, raised his level, but this is a Grand Slam with best-of-five matches.
“Things happen and your opponents will play better. You have to deal with it. I hope to play another great game on Sunday.”
A tight opening set on sun-drenched Court Philippe Chatrier in the 11th game swung Zverev’s way as he hit a backhand cross-court 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 Menšík’s level dropped during his first Grand Slam semi-final appearance.
The Czech youngster sat with a towel over his head at the changeover and his troubles worsened after the restart as Zverev stepped up to secure a second break and move comfortably two sets ahead.
Mensik responded after a long medical layoff due to a neck problem. He mixed his powerful serve with well-executed drop shots to take a 4-2 lead and take the third set to extend the match.
But Zverev quickly regained control in the fourth, breaking at the first opportunity and never allowing his opponent a way 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.
– The end
Published on:
05 Jun 2026 22:40 IST