Italian tennis player Matteo Arnaldi, ranked outside the top 100, pulled out of his first Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open just 25 minutes before match time on Friday, after a night of vomiting left him unable to move or eat. According to the source report, the 22-year-old was set to face compatriot Flavio Cobolli to decide who would meet Alexander Zverev in the final , but the match never started. Arnaldi’s withdrawal marks only the third time in the Open era that a men’s singles semi-final at a major has been decided by walkover.

25 minutes before match time: a violent virus stops Arnaldi

Arnaldi told officials and Cobolli that he began feeling unwell after dinner the previous evening , as the source recounted. Vomiting started at 1 a.m., continued until 6 or 7 a.m., and left him dizzy and feverish. “I can’t move, I can’t eat and I can’t drink,” Arnaldi said in a joint press conference. “There is no way that I would be able to play.” The match was scratched so close to start time that spectators were still entering Philippe Chatrier court, only to see cancellation notices on the big screens.

Nearly 20 hours of tennis: the cost of an unseeded run

The source notes that Arnaldi had played nearly 20 hours of tennis to reach the semi-finals, an extraordinary workload for an unseeded player. the physical toll, combined with a suspected virus, proved insurmountable. The incident underscores the gruelling nature of Grand Slam tournaments, where players often push through fatigue and minor illnesses. Arnaldi’s run, though truncated, included upset wins that had fans and pundits buzzing, making the late-night vomiting particularly cruel.

A historic walkover: only the third in Grand Slam semi-final history

According to the source, the last walkover in a men’s singles semi-final occurred at Wimbledon in 2022, when Rafael Nadal withdrew before facing Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal tear. Before that, Richard Krajicek pulled out of the 1992 Australian Open semi-final against Jim Courier. This rarity highlights just how unuual Arnaldi’s situation is—and how rarely a player at the brink of a final is forced to forfeit due to sudden illness.

Cobolli’s conflicted victory: an 'inspiration' and a friend

Flavio Cobolli, who advanced to the final without striking a ball, expressed both joy and sorrow in the joint press conference held minutes after the announcement,as the source reported. “When he came to me about an hour ago, I almost cried,” Cobolli said. He added that Arnaldi is “an inspiration to all of us.” The two are Davis Cup teammates and have known each other since age 10. Cobolli now faces Alexander Zverev, who he beat in straight sets on clay in Munich earlier this year, though that victory may feel less triumphant given the circumstances of this semi-final.