Italian tennis players Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi have advanced to the men's singles semifinals of the 2026 French Open [1, 2, 3].
The achievement marks a significant milestone for Italian tennis, as both players reached their first Grand Slam semifinals simultaneously at Roland Garros [2].
Cobolli, the 10th seed [1], secured his place in the semifinals by defeating the No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals [1, 5]. The match took place on Wednesday, June 5, 2026 [3, 4]. Arnaldi also won his respective quarterfinal match to join his compatriot in the final four [2, 5].
Following these victories, the tournament bracket scheduled a semifinal match between the two Italians to determine who would play for the title [3]. However, reports regarding the execution of that match vary. Some sources said the match was set to proceed [3], while other reports said that Arnaldi withdrew from the semifinal against Cobolli due to a virus [4].
If the withdrawal was finalized, Cobolli would advance directly to the final to face Alexander Zverev [4]. The tournament continues in Paris, where the remaining matches will determine the 2026 champion [1, 2].
“Both players reached their first Grand Slam semifinals simultaneously at Roland Garros.”
The simultaneous rise of Cobolli and Arnaldi signals a broadening of depth in Italian men's tennis. While the potential for an all-Italian semifinal was a major narrative for the 2026 tournament, Arnaldi's reported illness underscores the physical volatility of Grand Slam schedules. Cobolli's victory over a top-five seed establishes him as a legitimate contender for major titles.
