The all-Italian quarter-final showdown at the French Open has ended in sadness after Matteo Berrettini was forced to retire from his clash against Matteo Arnaldi.
Berrettini, who was playing in Paris for the first time since 2021 following a series of fitness issues, was engaged in a gut-busting 77-minute opening set with Arnaldi before an upper leg/hip injury severely hampered his movement. Early on in the second frame, he left the court to receive medical treatment. When he returned, Berrettini was noticeably moving more gingerly around the court. The issue got so worrying that his team in the crowd signalled for him to stop playing. Something Berrettini did when down 5-7, 2-5.
The retirement is a cruel twist of fate for the 30-year-old, who has also been troubled by his foot, ankle and abdomen throughout his career. Earlier this season, he missed the Australian Open after feeling discomfort in his oblique muscles.
“It’s a tough one. We both played a lot, so it’s normal not to be at our best. But I never wish someone to end the tournament like this,” Arnaldi said of his compatriot during his on-court interview.
“He did an amazing tournament. I’m sorry for him and I hope he’s going to recover because soon it’s going to be the grass (season).”
Currently ranked 104th in the world, Arnaldi has become the lowest-ranked player to reach the last four at Roland Garros since 1997. Until this year’s tournament, he had only reached the fourth round of a major event twice in 12 main draw appearances.
Arnaldi’s fairytale run has seen him spend more than 18 hours on the court to reach the semi-finals. In his two previous matches, he ousted Frances Tiafoe and Raphael Collignon in five-set thrillers.
“I’m tired. That’s for sure,” he said with a smile.
“But I train, and I play tennis to play these kinds of tournaments, these kinds of matches. I’m trying to give it all that I’ve got.
“Today I was a little bit more tired than usual. I wasn’t as fast as I thought I was in the first match. But I’m here. I’m enjoying my tennis. I’m enjoying playing tennis again. I was injured not long ago. So, I’m just happy to be here.”
The underdog will face another Italian in his next match. Standing in Arnaldi’s way of a place in the final will be Flavio Cobolli, who beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets earlier today.
“It’s going to be a fun one. We played last year (at the French Open), he won in four, but we played many times before.” Arnaldi commented.
“Hopefully it’s going to be a good fight and a good match to watch as well.”
Arnaldi and Cobolli are two of three players making their Grand Slam semi-final debut in Paris this year. The other is Jakub Mensik. The last time this happened at the tournament was in 2005.
