PARIS — After a night filled with relentless vomiting and a lack of sleep, Matteo Arnaldi found himself unable to contend for a place in the French Open final.
The 104th-ranked player opted to withdraw from the highly anticipated all-Italian men’s Grand Slam semifinal against Flavio Cobolli on Friday at Roland Garros.
Arnaldi suspected he had contracted a virus and expressed that he was not fit for competitive tennis.
“I believe it’s a virus because I felt unusually cold,” he explained. “I had a fever. I just couldn’t move, eat, or even drink.”
His decision to withdraw paved the way for Cobolli to advance to the final on Sunday against second-seeded Alexander Zverev.
Arnaldi had felt fine during practice on Thursday but began to feel unwell after dinner.
“My stomach started feeling off,” he recounted during a press conference, with Cobolli present at the far end of the table. “I thought it was just a digestion issue. But I woke up at 1 a.m. and started vomiting. I tried to get back to sleep, but it was impossible. By 6 or 7 a.m., I vomited again—and it was bad.”
He called for a doctor and took medication, holding onto hope that it was just a reaction to his dinner.
“I was optimistic it would clear up, but throughout the day I couldn’t eat,” Arnaldi continued. “Every time I tried to drink or do anything, I ended up back in the bathroom.”
His journey to the semifinals came after countryman Matteo Berrettini had to retire in their quarterfinal match due to a hip injury prior to the second set’s conclusion. Arnaldi logged a staggering 19 hours and 42 minutes on court, making him the player with the highest match time recorded for reaching a semifinal at any major since 1991.
“It’s hard, especially considering the way the tournament has gone and the hours I’ve spent on court. I actually felt quite good,” Arnaldi reflected.
“Withdrawing from my first slam semifinal is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I tried my best to prepare and stick around, hoping to step onto the court, but every time I stood up, I felt dizzy and unwell. I was certain that eating again wouldn’t help. It was the best choice for my health.”
Cobolli expressed his sadness over the situation.
“When Matteo told me just an hour ago, I was on the verge of tears,” he shared. “He’s a huge inspiration for all of us.”
