French Open star breaks silence after pulling out of semi-final just minutes before match | Tennis | Sport

Matteo Arnaldi has confessed that he made “the right decision” after he was forced to pull out of the French Open semi-finals just 20 minutes before taking to the court. The world No. 104 had never made it this far at a Grand Slam tournament before, and was due to face countryman Flavio Cobolli in the second men’s semi-final at 7pm local time.

But news of his withdrawal was announced shortly before they were due to walk out – while fans were already piling into the 15,000-strong stadium. Arnaldi then addressed the media almost immediately, explaining that he had been vomiting all morning and could not play through it.

In an unusual move, Arnaldi and Cobolli both came to the main press conference room together, sitting a few metres apart, given the world No. 104’s illness. The 25-year-old spoke first, explaining his decision to withdraw.

“Yeah, where to start? It’s difficult to be here. It’s not what I wanted to do, but last night I started to feel not very well. Like, yesterday I was feeling okay. I came here to practice. I did everything I had to do, and I was feeling fine. Then I had dinner. I started to feel so-so with my stomach. I was, like, alright, just didn’t digest very well,” he said.

“But then I woke up at 1am, and I started vomiting, and I wasn’t feeling the best. Then I tried to sleep. I couldn’t sleep at all. At 6, 7am. I vomited again. This time was pretty bad. We called the doctor in the room. He came, gave me some stuff. I was hoping that it would just be something from dinner or something like that, but then throughout the day, I couldn’t eat. Every time we did something or would drink, I would go back to the bathroom.

“So, you know, it’s tough. It’s tough, because for how the tournament was, for how many hours I spent on court, I was feeling actually very good. To have to withdraw from the first Slam semi-final is not something that you wish to anybody.

“I tried to get ready and tried to stay as much as I could here and tried to see if I could go on court, but every time I get up, I feel dizzy, and I don’t feel like the best. I’m pretty sure if I eat again, I’m not going to feel, like, good. That was the right decision for me to take.”

The former world No. 30, who had struggled for form in recent months until finding some rhythm during the clay season, was asked whether he was suffering from food poisoning or an illness. While he had no concrete answer, Arnaldi believed he was unwell.

“I have no idea. To be honest, I think it’s a virus I think, because I was feeling pretty cold. I think I had a fever, like, during the day. I don’t know, to be honest,” he replied. “I just know that I can’t move, and I can’t eat, and I can’t drink. So, it’s, like, there was really no way that I will be able to play.

“I feel sorry for everyone that got the tickets and came, all the Italians that came to watch us. I feel happy for him that he’s going to play the final, but at the same time, sorry because we couldn’t play a match, you know, so it’s tough to be here.”

Tournament organisers have already confirmed that ticketholders will receive a full refund. No. 10 seed Cobolli is through to his first Grand Slam final to face Alexander Zverev on Sunday.

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