Paris, June 5 -- Italian tennis suffered a dramatic twist at the French Open on Friday after Matteo Arnaldi was forced to withdraw from his maiden Grand Slam semi-final minutes before the match due to a viral infection, handing a walkover to close friend Flavio Cobolli.
Arnaldi, 25, who had been due to face Cobolli in an all-Italian last-four clash, pulled out around 25 minutes before scheduled play after falling ill overnight with severe stomach pain, dizziness, vomiting and dehydration.
"I tried to see if I could get on court but every time I get up I feel dizzy. It was the right decision," Arnaldi said, adding that he was unable to eat or drink and "couldn't move."The world No. 104 said the illness struck late on Thursday night and wor...