Matteo Arnaldi had spent longer on court than any other man in the draw. Ibrahim Ezzat / NurPhoto via Getty ImagesJune 5, 2026 Updated 12:46 pm EDTPARIS — Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi has withdrawn from his French Open semifinal against compatriot and No. 10 seed, Flavio Cobolli, around 20 minutes before the two players were due on Court Philippe-Chatrier.According to tournament organizers, Arnaldi, the 25-year-old world No. 104 who had a storybook run to the final four, came down with a virus ahead of the match and could not play.Tennis does not allow someone who has been eliminated from the main draw of a tournament to then take the place of someone who has beaten them.
It’s the first time this has happened at a Grand Slam since 2022, when Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Wimbledon semifinal against Nick Kyrgios, sending the Australian to the first and only Grand Slam final of his career to date. He lost to Novak Djokovic, in four sets.Cobolli will face No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev Sunday, after the 29-year-old German defeated Jakub Menšík of the Czech Republic earlier Friday.Fans will be reimbursed for their tickets, tournament organizers said.
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