Matteo Arnaldi Roland Garros withdrawal leaves tennis fans baffled as announcement made
Tennis fans have been left baffled after Matteo Arnaldi announced he was withdrawing from his French Open semi-final against Flavio Cobolli.
Arnaldi, who was unseeded going into Roland Garros, pulled off a series of superb victories to make it to the last four.
That included a five-set epic against 19th seed Frances Tiafoe, who served for the match, in the fourth round.
He was then one set up in the quarter-final before his opponent Matteo Berrettini was forced to retire due to injury.
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The Italian was set to take on another compatriot in Cobolli on Friday evening, but announced his withdrawal hours before the match was due to get underway due to a viral illness.
Cobolli will therefore receive a walkover to Sunday's final, where he will take on Germany's Alexander Zverev.
Arnaldi withdrews from French Open, Cobolli walkover to final
Arnaldi held a press conference to confirm his withdrawal, rather than it being announced via press release - with his opponent, unusually, also in attendance at the same time.
The Italian had said he 'started to feel not very well' on Thursday night shortly after dinner, and vomited several times between then and Friday morning.
Arnaldi explained that he had called a doctor, and revealed that he 'couldn't eat' throughout Friday.
"I tried to get ready and tried to stay as much as I could here. Tried to see if I could go on court but every time I got up I feel dizzy, and I don't feel the best."
After hearing Arnaldi's remarks in the socially-distanced press conference, fans all made the same comment in response.
"Not a good idea for Cobolli to be near him, unless it's food poisoning," one wrote.
"Quite weird to share a freaking presser," another said.
"Why couldn't Arnaldi forego the press conference? Why didn't Cobolli's team say they won't risk it?" another asked.
While a fourth wrote: "Ok, I knew I wasn't crazy... that was stupid as hell."
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Cobolli revealed that he 'almost cried' upon being informed that Arnaldi would be withdrawing from their semi-final match.
"It's something that you don't expect, at all," he said. "I was ready to play this match, and I was completely set for him.
"I'm really happy for the result that I reached this week. My dad also came to me and we had a big hug together, with the whole team.
"Yeah, now I'm sad, and I'm happy at the same time."
Topics: Tennis
Ryan Smart