PARIS – Sunday’s Roland Garros final is preceded by drama and tension: drama, because Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from Friday’s semi-finals due to a virus; and tension, because Germany’s Alexander Zverev has the opportunity of a lifetime against another Italian, Flavio Cobolli.
“It’s very hard, very hard, because I was feeling great and I have to pull out of my first Grand Slam semi-final; I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” said Arnaldi at a sombre press conference where he appeared alongside Cobolli, whom he was due to face in the headline match of the evening session.
“It’s very difficult to be here,” said the Italian, explaining why he was withdrawing from what would have been the first Grand Slam semi-final of his career.
“Last night I started feeling unwell after dinner – a bit of an upset stomach. I woke up at one in the morning and was sick; I couldn’t sleep all night. By six or seven in the morning I was feeling really bad, so we called the doctor.”
Arnaldi, aged 25 and ranked 104th in the world, is unsure what happened to him.
‘I have no idea; I think it’s a virus, because I felt cold, I think I had a fever. I don’t know; I can’t move, I can’t eat, I can’t drink – there was no way I could play. I’m really sorry for everyone; it was the right decision.’
Cobolli paid tribute to his compatriot: “When I heard the news, I almost started crying. Matteo is a great inspiration to all of us, one of the best people on the circuit. He got injured last season and at the start of this one. We all knew his standard; we all expected this result from him. I wish him all the best for the future.”
Zverev, 29 and world number three, defeated Czech player Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3 on Thursday to reach the Roland Garros final, where he will face Cobolli on Sunday.
It will be Zverev’s fourth Grand Slam final, and his second at Roland Garros after losing the 2024 final to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. Cobolli is reaching such a stage for the first time in his career.
