French Open broadcast brought to a halt after devastating announcement | Tennis | Sport

TNT Sports US’ French Open coverage was brought to a halt to announce some breaking news. Tennis icon Andre Agassi was rendered speechless, burying his head in his hands, upon discovering live on-air that Matteo Arnaldi had withdrawn from his semi-final against Flavio Cobolli.

Arnaldi and Cobolli had been due to step onto the court on Friday evening for the second and final match of the men’s singles semi-final double-header, to determine who would face Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final. Yet, less than 30 minutes before the match was scheduled to commence, it was confirmed that Arnaldi had pulled out through illness.

In remarkable scenes, Arnaldi and Cobolli, who are close friends off the court, held a joint press conference to address what had unfolded. Arnaldi disclosed that he began feeling unwell late on Thursday and was struck by a bout of vomiting in the early hours of Friday morning.

His team summoned a doctor in a bid to salvage his French Open hopes, but the Italian was unable to keep down either food or water.

“Can I interrupt really quickly? Because we have to be flexible. Because we have breaking news,” TNT Sports host Adam Lefkoe began. “And it’s not news I’m excited to bring. Matteo Arnaldi is not going to be playing in this semifinal. He is withdrawing.

“So, this second semifinal, he is retiring, which means that Flavio Cobolli will be advancing to the finals. What Andre Agassi is doing right now is what tennis fans are feeling all over the world,” Lefkoe continued as American tennis legend and former world No. 1, Agassi, was visibly gutted to his right.

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Arnaldi and Cobolli held a joint press conference shortly after the announcement, with French Open organisers confirming that ticketed fans would receive reimbursement.

“I was feeling fine, I had dinner, and was feeling so-so in my stomach. I was alright, but didn’t digest very well. I woke up at 1 am vomiting. I didn’t feel the best,” Arnaldi explained.

“I couldn’t sleep at all, and at 6 am, 7 am, I vomited again, and this time it was pretty bad. I called the doctor to the room, and he gave me some stuff. I was hoping it was something from dinner, but throughout the day, I couldn’t eat, and any time I did, I had to go back to the bathroom, so it’s tough because, for how the tournament was, for how many hours I spent on court, I was actually feeling good.

“To have to withdraw from your first Slam semi-final is not something you wish on anybody. I tried to get ready and stay as much as I could here to try and get on court, but every time I get up, I feel dizzy. I’m pretty sure if I eat again, I am not going to feel good, so it was the right decision for me to take.

“I have no idea (if it’s viral or something he has eaten). I think it’s a virus, to be honest, because I was feeling cold, I think I had a fever during the day.

“I don’t know, I just know that I can’t move, eat, or drink. There was no way that I would be able to play. I feel sorry for everyone that got the tickets and came to watch us.

“I feel happy for him (Cobolli) that he is going to play the final, but at the same time, sorry that we couldn’t play the match. It’s tough.”

Cobolli confessed he was on the verge of tears upon learning that his friend Arnaldi was withdrawing from their contest. “When he came to me almost one hour ago, I almost cried,” Cobolli said.

“It’s something that you don’t expect at all – I was ready to play this match, and when he came I was completely sad for him.

“Matteo is a big inspiration for all of us. He’s an amazing player. I think that he’s the best person outside the court. Preparation, focus, cool-down. Off the field, he’s one of the best, for sure.”

This article first appeared on Daily Express US.