Tremendous blow at Roland Garros: Arnaldi withdraws before playing the semifinal

Jose Morón | 5 Jun 2026 | 18.59

Tremendous setback at Roland Garros: Arnaldi withdraws before playing the semifinal. Photo: Getty

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The stick of sticks. Matteo Arnaldi has been forced to withdraw from the second semi-final of Roland Garros 2026 when everyone was eager to know who would be Alexander Zverev's opponent in the final this Sunday in Paris. In this way, Flavio Cobolli advances directly to the final, without having to play and saving energy that could be very useful against Sascha.

Roland Garros 2026 has experienced one of those episodes that completely change the narrative of a Grand Slam. As if this tournament didn't already have enough crazy situations. Matteo Arnaldi, one of the great surprises of the tournament, could not compete in the second men's semifinal against Flavio Cobolli after being affected by a virus that prevented him from competing effectively. The news hit Paris like a bucket of cold water, especially because the match promised to be historic: an all-Italian semifinal with two players vying for their first Grand Slam final.

Arnaldi's withdrawal from Roland Garros 2026 presents several important peculiarities. It is not just another medical retirement but a resignation in a decisive round, just before a match that could have changed the Italian tennis player's career. Arnaldi had arrived in Paris as one of the most unexpected stories in the draw, advancing through rounds against all odds and showcasing tremendous physical and mental resilience. However, the virus appeared at the worst possible moment and deprived him of the opportunity to fight for a spot in the final.

Due to a viral illness, Arnaldi has been forced to withdraw from his semi-final match against Cobolli.
Get well soon, Matteo 🧡#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/SHlbOZvY3i

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2026

Flavio Cobolli, directly to the final of Roland Garros 2026

The big winner in this situation has been Flavio Cobolli, who advances directly to the final of Roland Garros without having to play the semifinal. For Italian tennis, the story remains historically significant as there will be a representative in the men's final in Paris after Sinner's presence last year. However, the path to the title match is now marked by an unusual and cruel circumstance for Arnaldi.

Cobolli, furthermore, will have a clear advantage: he will arrive more rested for the final. In a demanding tournament like Roland Garros, where best-of-five-set matches punish the body extremely, avoiding a semifinal can be decisive. This extra freshness can influence both the physical and mental aspects, especially against a rival like Zverev, who will come with an extra match under his belt.

The situation inevitably brings to mind what happened to Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon 2022. The Spaniard, who was supposed to face Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals, decided to withdraw due to an abdominal injury sustained during the tournament. That withdrawal allowed the Australian to advance directly to the final, leaving a very similar feeling: that of a Grand Slam influenced by the physical condition of one of its protagonists.

Novak Djokovic also experienced a comparable situation at Roland Garros 2024 when a knee injury forced him to withdraw before playing the quarterfinals against Casper Ruud. These cases demonstrate that in major tournaments, reaching far requires not only tennis skills but also physical survival.

A disappointment for Matteo, who after the dream tournament he had, will go home with a bitter taste of not being able to play the match of his life. We will see if life can give him a second chance like this.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tremendo palo en Roland Garros: Arnaldi se retira antes de jugar la semifinal

ATP