Matteo Berrettini

The collapse of Matteo Berrettini’s run

The match began as a showcase of Berrettini’s raw power. The former world No. 6 stormed to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, breaking serve twice to seize early control. However, the momentum shifted as Roland-Garros reported that Arnaldi won seven of the next nine games to steal the first set 7-5. It was a grueling 82-minute marathon that set the tone for the physical attrition to follow.

Berrettini’s struggle became evident in the second set. Down 2-1, he took a medical timeout, but the reprieve was temporary. During the stoppage, Berrettini appeared to be managing discomfort, yet his ability to cover the baseline diminished significantly following the break. As the set progressed to 5-2 in Arnaldi’s favor, Berrettini began grimacing. After failing to chase down a winner and pausing to stretch, his coaching staff signaled for him to stop.

He reluctantly retired after exactly two hours on court. This exit is a bitter pill for Berrettini, who was making his first appearance at the tournament since 2021. His body finally succumbed to a taxing fortnight that included the longest match of his career during the last 32 against Francisco Comesana, as noted by France 24. The retirement complicates Berrettini’s efforts to rebuild his ATP ranking, as the physical setback limits his ability to defend points in the upcoming season.

“You never want someone to end the tournament like this,” Matteo Arnaldi, player

Arnaldi’s historic climb from the top 150

For Arnaldi, this is more than a semifinal berth; it is a statistical anomaly. The 25-year-old entered the tournament as a relative outsider, and his ascent has been defined by sheer endurance. He has logged more hours on court en route to a major quarterfinal than any player since 1991.

The physical toll is staggering. Arnaldi navigated back-to-back five-setters in the third and fourth rounds, totaling over 10 hours of play. This cumulative workload has been a primary factor in his ability to outlast higher-seeded opponents. Despite the fatigue, he managed to outlast a former Wimbledon finalist.

Arnaldi’s rapid movement through the ATP rankings is a direct result of this high-intensity run. His climb from nearly 150th in the world to the current No. 104 position in just 30 days has provided him with a significant boost in ranking points, securing his standing for the upcoming hard-court swing.

“Unbelievable, I still can’t believe it if I think where I was one month ago, I was nearly 150 in the world,” Matteo Arnaldi, player

Arnaldi’s achievement places him in an elite group of low-ranked disruptors. His presence in the final four is a rare occurrence in the modern era of the French Open:

• Lowest rank since 1997: Arnaldi is the lowest-ranked man to reach the semifinals since Belgian Filip Dewulf, who reached the final four ranked No. 122.
• Top 100 outlier: He is only the third man ranked outside the top 100 to reach this stage since 1990.
• Rank volatility: He climbed from nearly 150th in the world to the semifinals in just 30 days.

The rarity of the ‘Under-100’ Quarterfinal

The matchup itself was a historical curiosity. With Berrettini ranked 105 and Arnaldi ranked 104, this was the first Grand Slam quarterfinal featuring two players ranked outside the ATP top 100 since 1991, according to Roland-Garros live coverage. That previous instance occurred at the Australian Open between Pat McEnroe (114) and Cristiano Caratti (101).

This vacuum of top-tier seeds has left the men’s draw wide open. The instability was cemented early in the tournament by the second-round exit of Italy’s top star, Jannik Sinner, paving the way for these lower-ranked Italians to make deep runs. The departure of the highest-ranked Italian player removed a dominant presence from the bracket, creating a competitive landscape where players outside the top 10 anchors could contest the final stages of the tournament.

“I’m tired, that’s for sure, but you know I train and I play tennis to play these kind of tournaments, these kind of matches.” Matteo Arnaldi, player

An all-Italian semifinal showdown

Arnaldi’s next challenge is a semifinal clash with Flavio Cobolli, scheduled for Thursday, June 4, on Court Philippe Chatrier. The matchup follows a tournament path that saw the departure of several top-seeded players, which has allowed Cobolli and Arnaldi to dominate the narrative of the men’s singles draw. Cobolli enters the match looking to capitalize on the momentum of a deep run that has mirrored Arnaldi’s own statistical climb. This semifinal represents a critical juncture for the Italian contingent, as both players aim to secure their highest-ever Grand Slam results.