Flavio Cobolli is into his first Grand Slam final, having been gifted his spot due to Matteo Arnaldi’s withdrawal from their semi-final match.
It marks a devastating end to what had been a hugely impressive tournament for the 25-year-old, who beat stars like Frances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas on his way to this stage.
Alas, it is his compatriot who will now face Alexander Zverev in the final for a shot at the title.
Flavio Cobolli has offered his emotional immediate reaction.
Flavio Cobolli reacts after Matteo Arnaldi withdraws from their semi-final
He told reporters: “Sometimes it helps and sometimes it does not. I have almost four days off; it’s a lot. So sometimes you lose the rhythm. But also warming up, I played really well; now I’ll go practice again.
I think I will be ready for the final, but I also know that I will be fresh for sure, so maybe it has helped or maybe not. I will tell you after the final.
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Then, speaking in Italian, he offered a more emotional reaction, adding: “When he came to me almost one hour ago, I almost cried. It’s something you don’t expect at all. I was completely sad for him.”
Tim Henman has also delivered his thoughts on Arnaldi’s withdrawal too.
What Matteo Arnaldi said after withdrawing from Roland Garros
Speaking in his own press conference, Arnaldi revealed exactly what went wrong that led to his devastating withdrawal from the event.
He shared: “I had a fever too during the day. I can’t move, I can’t eat, I can’t drink. There was no way I would be able to play. I feel sorry for all the fans.”
The Italian also stated that whenever he stood up, he felt dizzy, which likely reinforced his decision.
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Alexander Zverev, speaking in his own press conference, also stated that he saw Arnaldi in the locker room and that he ‘looked terrible’.
He will hope that this extra day of rest does not aid Cobolli too much ahead of their Roland Garros final on Sunday.
