Arnaldi Withdraws from French Open Due to Illness

Flavio Cobolli Advances to French Open Final After Matteo Arnaldi Withdrawal

Italian player Flavio Cobolli has reached his first Grand Slam final at the French Open, following the last-minute withdrawal of his opponent and compatriot Matteo Arnaldi due to illness. The 24-year-old 10th seed will face German second seed Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final.

Tournament organizers announced that Arnaldi had been forced to pull out with a “virus” just over an hour before the scheduled match time. Arnaldi explained that he began feeling unwell after dinner on Thursday and experienced vomiting, dizziness, and stomach issues throughout the day. Despite his efforts to recover, he was unable to continue playing.

Cobolli expressed sadness for Arnaldi’s withdrawal but also happiness for his own achievement. “I’m sad and happy at the same time,” Cobolli said in a news conference with Arnaldi. The two players sat apart due to COVID-19 protocols.

Arnaldi acknowledged that withdrawing was not an easy decision, but stated it was necessary given his condition. He praised Cobolli as a talented player and professional, saying he is “one of the best on the tour.”

Cobolli will now face Zverev in the final, which will produce a new major champion. The Italian player has had time to rest after his quarterfinal victory over Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday. He expressed some concern about losing rhythm due to the extra time off but is confident he will be ready for the final.

The French Open final will take place on Sunday, with Cobolli and Zverev competing for the championship.

Source: Al Jazeera