ROLAND GARROS

June 5, 2026

Flavio Cobolli

Matteo Arnaldi

Press Conference

F. COBOLLI/M. Arnaldi

[W/O]

THE MODERATOR: Everyone, as you heard, unfortunately Matteo isn't able to play the semifinal, so he came here together with Flavio. He will answer a couple of questions, and then he will leave, because he's feeling unwell. Then we will continue with Flavio.

Matteo, just tell us what happened overnight. Unfortunately, you had to pull out, but still looking back at an amazing two weeks in Roland Garros.

MATTEO ARNALDI: 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, All right, just didn't digest very well.

But then I woke up at 1:00 a.m., and I started vomiting, and I wasn't feeling the best. Then I tried to sleep. I couldn't sleep at all. At 6:00, 7:00 a.m. 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 semifinal 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 MODERATOR: Questions in English for Matteo.

Q. Without being too specific, Matteo, do you think you're ill, or is it something that you've eaten? Because there has been some food poisoning at this tournament.

MATTEO ARNALDI: 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.

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.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: (Speaking in Italian.)

(Matteo exits.)

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English for Flavio.

Q. Obviously not the way that you want to be going through to a final, but what are your emotions now? A first Grand Slam final, but I guess sad for your friend, too.

FLAVIO COBOLLI: I mean, it's also tough for me to speak now. You know, when he came to me almost one hour ago, I almost cried. You know, it's something that you don't expect at all. I was ready to play this match. When he came, I was completely sad for him.

But, at the same time, of course I'm really happy for the result that I reached this week. My dad also came to me right before him, and we had a big hug together with the whole team for achieving for the top 10. Every time that I make the best ranking, we all together have a big hug. We did the same routine as always.

Yeah, now I'm sad and happy at the same time.

Q. Can you tell us exactly, how was your day? What time you have the news? Where you were? Because I guess you went from a state of full preparation, full focus, to something completely new. Can you really tell us, I won't say minute by minute, but almost?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: No, I did the same routine as every day. Today I knew before that the match was at 7:00, so I came here not so early. Just right before lunch. We made some physio stuff, and then I had lunch together with the rest of the team. Then I slept a little bit to the sofa watching the match. Then I warming up in the court, and then I was ready to compete.

But the news at 6:00, and I couldn't either warming up before the match, because I already news, and the day was done.

Q. Matteo seemed really moved by what you said to him earlier. Can you tell us for the non-Italian speakers what you said?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: I just said Matteo is a big inspiration for all of us. He's an amazing player and amazing professionalist. I mean, he's I think the best person outside the court for how he makes the thing, preparation of the match, focus, cooldown. He's one of the best on the tour, for sure.

I mean, I said also he deserve the result about this week. He got injured last season and the beginning of this one. We already -- I mean, we all knew about his level.

Everyone expect this result from him. His tennis is amazing, so I just said something like this. I wish him all the best for the future.

Q. Do you think not playing today will help keep you fresh for the final, or would you have preferred to have a competitive match to prepare yourself?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: Sometimes it help. Sometimes it's not. Maybe have almost four days off is a lot, so you lose the rhythm, but I think also during warming up, I played really well. Now I got practice again.

I think I will be ready, for sure, for the final, but I also know that I will be fresh, for sure. Maybe it helped; maybe not. I tell you after the final.