By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, June 5, 2026
Photo credit: Davis Cup Facebook
Flavio Cobolli’s spirited Roland Garros run continues with a walkover into the final.
In a stunning turn of events, Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from the first all-Italian men’s major semifinal in Open Era history due to a viral illness.
It’s just the fourth time since 1968 a Grand Slam semifinal ended in a walkover.
The 10th-seeded Cobolli advanced to his maiden major final where he will face second-seeded Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s title match.
The walkover win, first in four years in a major semifinal, is a milestone moment for Cobolli who will crack the ATP Top 10 for the first time when the new rankings are released on Monday.
Earlier, Zverev defeated 20-year-old Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to his fourth Grand Slam final, including his second Roland Garros title match in the last three years. We will see a maiden major champion crowned on Sunday.
Arnaldi advanced to his maiden major semifinal after compatriot Matteo Berrettini retired trailing Arnaldi 7-5, 5-2 in the quarterfinals.
Olympic gold medal champion Zverev has beaten Cobolli in three of four career clashes, including a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over the Italian Davis Cup hero in the Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinals last month. Cobolli’s lone win was a 6-3, 6-3 sweep in the Munich semifinals earlier this season.
Though Cobolli carried an ignominious 1-16 record vs. Top 10 opponents onto court for the April 18th Munich meeting vs. Zverev, he used his finishing forehand and speed around the court to control this semifinal and score his second career Top 10 win.
Cobolli out-aced Zverev seven to zero and converted four of five break points in a 69-minute triumph.
It was Cobolli’s first Top 5 win.