Arnaldi reaches maiden Grand Slam semis as Berrettini retires at Roland Garros
Synopsis
World No. 104 Matteo Arnaldi is into his maiden Grand Slam semi-final after Matteo Berrettini retired hurt at 7-5, 5-2 in an all-Italian Roland Garros quarter-final. He is the lowest-ranked Paris semifinalist since 1997 — and now faces compatriot Flavio Cobolli in a guaranteed Italian finalist showdown.
Key Takeaways
Matteo Arnaldi reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros on 4 June .
Matteo Berrettini retired with a hip injury while trailing 7-5, 5-2 after exactly two hours.
104 , is the lowest-ranked Paris semifinalist since Filip Dewulf in 1997 .
He has logged nearly 20 hours on court — the most en route to a major quarter-final since 1991 .
Arnaldi faces 10th seed Flavio Cobolli in Friday's all-Italian semi-final; the head-to-head stands at 1-1 .
Matteo Arnaldi stormed into his first Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros on 4 June after compatriot Matteo Berrettini retired hurt with a hip injury while trailing 7-5, 5-2 in their all-Italian quarter-final in Paris. The result made the world No. 104 only the second man in the Open era to advance from a French Open quarter-final via mid-match retirement.
How the match unfolded
The former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini started sharply, breaking serve twice in the first three games to lead 3-0. But Arnaldi clawed back, winning seven of the next nine games to steal a gruelling 76-minute opening set that featured a nine-deuce eighth game in which Berrettini saved five break points.
The former world No. 6 took a medical timeout while down 2-1 in the second set and battled on for three more games before pulling the plug after exactly two hours on court.
Berrettini on the hip flare-up
Berrettini said the discomfort surfaced early but he tried to suppress it. ‘The match was very tough, and I just didn't really think much of it,' he said, as per match reports. ‘I just kept going and I tried to do my best. It was a really tough task today, but then the more that I was playing, the more I was serving, the more I was hitting forehands, the worse I was feeling.'
A historic low-ranked run
Arnaldi is now the lowest-ranked man to reach the Paris semi-finals since Belgian Filip Dewulf, who made the last four in 1997 at No. 122. He is also only the third man outside the top 100 to do so since 1990. The 25-year-old has logged nearly 20 hours on court through the fortnight — the most en route to a major quarter-final since 1991.
‘It's crazy to think I'm in the semifinals,' Arnaldi said. ‘I was feeling actually pretty good. I can't complain. I have been playing a lot, but at the same time I'm happy to be on court and to spend time on court, because I miss the playing. I for sure have some energy left for the next matches.'
Cobolli awaits in all-Italian semi
Awaiting Arnaldi on Friday is 10th seed Flavio Cobolli, who rallied past Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to seal his own maiden major semi-final. The two Italians are level at 1-1 on the ATP head-to-head, with Cobolli winning their most recent meeting in the second round at Roland Garros 2025. Arnaldi says he has known Cobolli since the pair were ‘11 or 12 years old'.
With Italian tennis riding an extraordinary wave, the result guarantees an Italian in the Roland Garros final four — and possibly the final.
Point of View
The country's depth chart is starting to look structurally different from a decade ago. The Berrettini retirement is a deflating subplot — his body has repeatedly failed him at the worst moments since 2021 — but it does not dilute Arnaldi's grind: nearly 20 hours on court is a quarter-final résumé built on legs, not luck.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Matteo Berrettini retire from the Roland Garros quarter-final?
Berrettini retired with a hip injury while trailing Matteo Arnaldi 7-5, 5-2 after exactly two hours of play. He said the discomfort began on serve in the first set and worsened as the match went on.
How significant is Matteo Arnaldi's run to the Roland Garros semi-final?
Arnaldi, ranked No. 104, is the lowest-ranked man to reach the Paris semi-finals since Filip Dewulf in 1997 and only the third player outside the top 100 to do so since 1990. He is also just the second man in the Open era to advance from a French Open quarter-final via opponent retirement.
Who will Arnaldi face in the semi-final?
Arnaldi faces 10th seed and fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli on Friday. Cobolli beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the other quarter-final to reach his own maiden Grand Slam semi.
What is the head-to-head between Arnaldi and Cobolli?
The two Italians are level at 1-1 on the ATP head-to-head. Cobolli won their most recent meeting in the second round at Roland Garros 2025.
