Roland-Garros Upset: Arnaldi's Unexpected Withdrawal

Flavio Cobolli has advanced to the Roland Garros 2026 final without stepping onto the court. His Italian compatriot, Matteo Arnaldi, announced his withdrawal shortly before their semi-final match due to a health issue.

Arnaldi's withdrawal, from the world No. 104, directly propels Cobolli, the 10th seed, into Sunday's decisive match, where he will face Germany's Alexander Zverev, the world's third-ranked player.

In a press conference, Matteo Arnaldi explained the reasons behind his difficult decision, revealing he had fallen victim to a virus, as confirmed by the tournament organizers. «Last night I didn't feel well. Everything was fine yesterday, but then I woke up at 1 AM vomiting. I couldn't sleep. At 6 AM, I vomited again,» the tennis player detailed.

Arnaldi added that his physical condition prevented him from competing. «We called the doctors to my room. I can't move, eat, or drink, so it was clear I couldn't play. I looked for a solution to get on court, but it wouldn't have been a good match for the public, as I'm dehydrated and risked injury,» he lamented, apologizing to spectators and expressing happiness for his compatriot's advancement.

The tournament organizers have announced that all spectators who purchased tickets for the match between the two Italians will receive a full refund.

Flavio Cobolli, for his part, reacted to the news with mixed emotions. «It's tough for me too. When Matteo came to me, I almost cried,» he confessed. «I wasn't expecting it at all; I had prepared to play this match. I felt devastated for him, but on the other hand, of course, I'm very happy with the results this week.»

The finalist also extended words of appreciation to his opponent and friend: «I wanted to congratulate you on what you've achieved this week; you fought for many hours on court. Be proud of what you did and how you did it. I also try to emulate you off the court; you are an example of an excellent athlete. All the best, I'm sorry how this ends today. The battle between us would have been magnificent».

Interestingly, after qualifying for the semi-finals, Cobolli had revealed a superstition that has accompanied him throughout the tournament: always using the same shower, which coincidentally belonged to Rafael Nadal. A ritual that, apparently, has brought him luck on his path to the final.