Italian tennis player Matteo Arnaldi has spoken about the sudden illness that forced him to withdraw from the French Open semifinals. The 25-year-old described severe symptoms that left him unable to eat or stand properly before his scheduled match against compatriot Flavio Cobolli.
Arnaldi said the illness struck after dinner the night before the semifinal. He experienced vomiting, fever, chills and sleeplessness, with a tournament doctor visiting his hotel room to provide medication.
The player noted that he did not eat for two full days plus breakfast. He compared the episode to an illness that affected several players at the 2025 Acapulco Open, though he said the exact cause remains unknown.
Arnaldi returned to competition at the Eastbourne Open on June 20, still needing to play qualifying matches. He is currently ranked No. 24 in the ATP live rankings.