A day to remember for Italian tennis unfolded in Paris, where the last two quarterfinals at Roland Garros produced an all-Italian semifinal between Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi. Cobolli got there first, coming from a set down to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime and reach the first major semifinal of his career. The other half of the pairing could hardly have arrived by a more different route: Matteo Arnaldi, ranked No. 104 and through years of inconsistency and setbacks, advanced to his maiden Grand Slam semifinal when Matteo Berrettini retired hurt in the second set. With the sport's biggest names long gone from this half, two Italians will now meet for a place in the final.
Cobolli reaches first Grand Slam semifinal with comeback win over Auger-Aliassime
Flavio Cobolli's dream run in Paris continues. The Italian came from a set down to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the first Grand Slam semifinal of his career. With many of the tournament favorites already eliminated, Cobolli has been one of the few players openly embracing the opportunity, and against the Canadian he again looked energized rather than burdened by the occasion. Auger-Aliassime started strongly and claimed the opening set, using his serve to keep points short and prevent Cobolli from finding rhythm. The Italian responded the way he has all tournament: by raising his intensity. As the match wore on he grew increasingly effective from the baseline, repeatedly hurting the Canadian with his backhand down the line, a shot that proved decisive on several of the biggest points of the match. His fierce celebration toward his box after taking the second set captured the belief driving his campaign. The numbers show how fine the margins were. Both players finished with exactly 126 total points won, and their first-serve effectiveness was nearly identical. The difference came in the key moments: Cobolli created more pressure on return, earning eleven break-point chances and converting five, against three for Auger-Aliassime. Despite dropping the opener, the Italian steadily took control and never let the Canadian regain momentum once the roof was closed and the match moved into its later stages. For the first time in his career, Cobolli is into a Grand Slam semifinal, continuing what is rapidly becoming the breakthrough tournament of his life.
Arnaldi reaches first Grand Slam semifinal as Berrettini retires
One of the most unexpected Grand Slam quarterfinals in recent years ended in disappointment for Matteo Berrettini and a career-defining breakthrough for Matteo Arnaldi. In the first Slam quarterfinal between two players ranked outside the Top 100 since Patrick McEnroe and Cristiano Caratti at the 1999 Australian Open, Arnaldi reached his maiden Grand Slam semifinal after Berrettini retired while trailing 7-5, 5-2. The match began exactly as Berrettini would have hoped. The former Wimbledon finalist broke immediately and raced to a 3-0 lead, imposing his serve and forehand. Arnaldi gradually settled, much as he had against Frances Tiafoe a round earlier, absorbing pace from the baseline, extending rallies and leaning on his counterpunching to force Berrettini into trouble. The turning point arrived at 6-5, when Arnaldi timed a break perfectly to steal the opening set after 76 minutes. Despite arriving with by far the heavier workload - he had spent more time on court than any player left in the draw through four rounds - it was Berrettini who looked physically compromised as the match went on. Arnaldi secured an early break in the second, and although Berrettini briefly leveled at 2-2, that was his final surge before his body gave way. The statistics traced Arnaldi's growing control: Berrettini struck more winners, 26 to 16, but leaked 39 unforced errors to Arnaldi's 16, the damage concentrated on the forehand, where he hit 19 winners against 35 errors. Arnaldi won 43 return points to 21, converted all three break points he earned and saved every one he faced. For Arnaldi, it is the biggest result of his career; for Berrettini, a painful end to one of the most encouraging tournaments of his comeback season, interrupted once more by physical problems just as he looked ready to rejoin the elite.