Matteo Arnaldi has withdrawn from the French Open (Image: Getty)
Matteo Arnaldi has withdrawn from the French Open less than half an hour before he was due to take to the court for his semi-final match. The world No. 104 was set to face countryman Flavio Cobolli in the second men’s semi-final on Friday, at 7pm local time (6pm UK).
But he suddenly pulled out as ticketholders were making their way into the stands, and Roland Garros organisers issued a statement confirming the news. “Due to a viral illness, Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi has been forced to withdraw from his semifinal match against Flavio Cobolli,” it read.
“All spectators holding a ticket for the second men’s singles semifinal will receive a full refund. Details regarding the refund process will be communicated on the Roland-Garros ticketing website. The FFT apologises for this inconvenience and wishes Matteo Arnaldi a speedy recovery.”
TNT Sports reported that Arnaldi had scheduled an on-site practice session for 12.45pm to 1.15pm local time on Friday, and did not show up. Moments after his withdrawal was announced, both Arnaldi and Cobolli addressed the media in a joint press conference, though they were seated a few metres apart, likely due to the world No. 104’s illness.
“I was feeling fine, and then I had dinner, I started to feel so-so with my stomach. I was like, alright, just didn’t digest very well. But then I woke up at 1am and I started vomiting and I wasn’t, like, feeling the best. Then I tried to sleep, I couldn’t sleep at all, Arnaldi explained.
“At 6, 7am, I vomited again. This time, was pretty bad. And we called the doctor in the room, he came, gave me some stuff. I was hoping that it would, like, just be something from dinner, or something like that. But then, throughout the day, I couldn’t eat, every time I did something, or drink something, I would go back to the bathroom. So, you know, it’s tough.
“It’s tough, because for how the tournament was, for how many hours I spent on court, I was actually feeling actually very good. To have to withdraw from the first Slam semi-final is not something you wish to anybody, and I tried to get ready and tried to stay as much as I could here, and tried to see if I could go on court. But every time I get up, I feel dizzy, and I don’t feel, like, the best. I’m pretty sure, if I eat again, I’m not going to feel good. So that was the right decision, for me, to take.”
Flavio Cobolli is into the French Open final following Matteo Arnaldi’s withdrawal (Image: TNT Sports)
Arnaldi had played around 20 hours of tennis to reach a maiden Grand Slam semi-final before his shock withdrawal. He faced Matteo Berrettini in another all-Italian clash in the quarters, and Berrettini had to retire with a hip injury while Arnaldi led 7-5 5-2.
The two men’s semi-finals had been sold as two separate tickets, and Court Philippe-Chatrier had been filling up when the announcement came. While refunds will be issued, Cobolli will also practice on centre court at 7.15pm local time in an open session.
And Tim Henman told TNT Sports that it was a nightmare for players, fans, and organisers. “It’s so sad, so disappointed in it, so anti-climactic. First and foremost, for Arnaldi, he’s worked so hard, you know. For Cobolli, it’s a really bizarre scenario,” he explained.
“There are times, you know, when you, early on in a small tournament, you get a walkover and you sort of say, ‘Oh well’, you, disappointed to get through in these circumstances, but actually, you’re quite pleased because you get a day off. But semis of a Grand Slam for both of them, it’s just it’s really a nightmare, and it’s a nightmare for the fans, it’s a nightmare for the tournament. They’ve got that one match in the evening session, and it doesn’t take place. You just feel so awful.”
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