The tennis world has been left heartbroken for Italian Matteo Berrettini after the fan favourite was in tears when he retired from his quarter-final clash at the French Open. Berrettini was trailing compatriot Matteo Arnaldi 7-5 5-2 when he eventually pulled the pin after earlier complaining of hip pain at the start of the second set.
The 30-year-old had called for a timeout after three games in the second set, but continued to struggle. He bravely fought on despite his team urging him to retire. But it all became too much late shortly after as he wiped away tears when he retired. It continues a nightmare run for the former world No.6, who has constantly been hampered by injury throughout his career.
Berrettini's Emotional Confession
“In the middle of the first set I started to feel something when I was serving,” a shattered Berrettini said after the match. “The more I played, the more I served, the more forehands I hit, the worse I felt. If I’d kept playing I’d have done way worse, and the recovery would have been longer. I didn’t have any choice other than to retire.”
Berrettini added that he is tired of his body failing him. “It was really hard – mostly because I’ve done it many times, and I’m tired of retiring,” he continued. “I’m the last one who wants to retire. I don’t want to do it, but sometimes you have to. I just wanted to finish my match. I feel it took away the chance to perform until the last point.”
Arnaldi Advances to Face Cobolli
Meanwhile, World No.104 Arnaldi, who spent 17 hours and 42 minutes on court as he fought his way into the last eight, will face compatriot Flavio Cobolli, guaranteeing an Italian presence in the men’s final despite the early exit of World No.1 and last year’s runner-up Jannik Sinner.
“It’s a tough one. We both played a lot, so it’s normal not to be at our best, but you never wish someone’s tournament to end like this,” Arnaldi said. “We’re doing such a good job in Italy. I hope he recovers, the grass season starts soon, and he’s someone who is going to be tough to play against.”
Arnaldi also reflected on his own fatigue: “I’m tired, that’s for sure, but I train and play tennis, and to play these tournaments, these matches. I try to give it all I’ve got. I was more tired than usual and wasn’t as fast I think in the first match. I was injured not long ago but I’m giving all I have now.”
Cobolli Battles Past Auger-Aliassime
Cobolli started slowly in wild and windy conditions before stepping up to topple Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros for the first time. Following an early exchange of breaks on a blustery day, Auger-Aliassime pounced on Cobolli’s serve in the 10th game to claim the opening set on Wednesday, after which the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier was closed.
Cobolli battled back from 1-3 down in the second set with the playing conditions suddenly improving. “I think we played two different matches today,” Cobolli said in an on-court interview. “In the first set it was very windy and tough to play. I went to the toilet to think a bit. I tried to change something. I thought ‘this is the best court I’ve played on in my life, because I can show my best tennis’. I said to myself to fight, this is the chance of my life and I must give everything in all my matches. So today I’m really happy.”
Having levelled the contest at one set apiece, the 10th seed dialled up the intensity in the seventh game of the next set and put himself just one set away from his maiden Grand Slam semi-final appearance. The 24-year-old thumped his chest when he edged ahead in the fourth set, and he went on to comfortably secure the victory.
Cobolli said he was a superstitious person and would not change his routine to watch that match from the venue. “The tension of my racket has been the same since two weeks, even with the warm weather,” Cobolli added, explaining how steadfast he is with his routines during tournaments. “I’ll do my same routine today as every day, have dinner with friends. I don’t care which Matteo is in the semi-finals. It’s been the best week of my life but I’m still missing something, so I have to fight again.”
