Breaking: Arnaldi withdraws from Roland-Garros semi-final, Cobolli through to the final to face Zverev
Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from his Roland-Garros semi-final against compatriot Flavio Cobolli on Friday afternoon, citing illness. Zverev – Cobolli is 2026 Roland-Garros final.
Flavio Cobolli, Roland-Garros 2026 | © Ch. Caillaud / PsNewz
Matteo Arnaldi, the Italian world No. 104, withdrew from his Roland-Garros semi-final against compatriot Flavio Cobolli on Friday afternoon, citing illness. The 25-year-old, who had reached the semi-finals on Wednesday afternoon after Matteo Berrettini retired with a hip injury during their all-Italian quarter-final, was due to play Cobolli on Court Philippe-Chatrier at 3:00 pm local time.
The withdrawal hands Cobolli a walkover into Sunday’s final, where he will face second seed Alexander Zverev of Germany. Cobolli, the 10th seed and 24-year-old from Rome, is now into his first Grand Slam final on the maiden Slam semi-final he was due to contest.
“It’s tough for me to speak now”, he said, moved, in a press conference. “When they came to me almost an hour ago [with the news], I almost cried. It’s something you don’t expect at all. I was ready to play this match, and when it came I was completely thrown – but at the same time, of course, I’m really happy for the way I’ve raised my level this week. My dad also came to me right before, and we had a big hug with the whole team – for the top ten news. Every time we make a best ranking we all have a big [celebration] together.”
Matteo (Arnaldi) is an amazing player, and – outside the court – I think he’s one of the best for how he does things.
Roland-Garros has announced the news at 6:35 pm live to the spectators and the media simultaneously. Spectators with tickets for Friday’s afternoon session will be reimbursed.
Arnaldi, who has spent 19 hours and 42 minutes on court across his five rounds at this tournament – the longest path to a Grand Slam semi-final since the ATP began recording match times in 1991 – had reached the last four on the strength of a five-set survival of American Frances Tiafoe in the round of 16 that ran past 1 am Paris time.
“Matteo is a big inspiration for all of us”, Cobolli said in Italian and in English. “He’s an amazing player, and – outside the court – I think he’s one of the best for how he does things: the preparation, the focus, the cool-down. He’s the best person outside the court. And the results he got this week – he got injured last season and at the start of this one, and we all knew about his level, so everyone expected these results from him. His tennis is amazing. I just wanted to say something like this, and I wish him all the best for the future.”
Zverev – Cobolli, Sunday on the Chatrier
Cobolli, who has been the in-form Italian of the second week, will arrive at Sunday’s final having dropped only two sets across his five matches and with three days of rest behind him.
Zverev, the 28-year-old German, beat 20-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Friday morning to reach his second Roland-Garros final and his fourth Grand Slam final. The German lost his three previous Slam finals – 2020 US Open, 2024 Roland-Garros, 2025 Australian Open – and is one win from a first major title.
