Berrettini dream a bust as left hip injury shuts down quarter-final

Matteo Berrettini’s hope of reaching the French Open final was shattered on Wednesday as the Italian could not go on due to injury in a 7-5, 2-1 loss to compatriot Matteo Arnaldi.

Arnaldi will play countryman Flavio Cobolli, who fought back to dominate Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 earlier.

The 30-year-old former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, whose last several seasons have been blighted by various injuries, took treatment early in the second set with his movement hindered by an upper left leg problem.

Berrettini tried to resume but the effort proved to be useless, with even his coaches in the player box yelling at him not to go on due to his condition.

The former ATP No. 6 left the court with tears in his eyes. “In the middle of the first set, I started to feel something when I was serving, but I was competing. 

“I just didn’t really think much of it. I just kept going and I tried to do my best.”It was a really tough task today, but then the more that I was playing, the more I was serving, the more I was hitting forehands, the worse I was feeling.

“I’m tired of retiring. I didn’t want the tournament to end like this. it’s a different feeling when you go home and you just think about what you could have done better if you lost the match like this. 

“I feel like I was taking away the chance to perform until the last point, to try.

“I have to take the good stuff that I did in this tournament, because a few weeks ago, a few days ago, would have been crazy to think about me in the
quarter-finals.

“So I’ll try to go back home with a smile on my face.”

The 104th-ranked Arnaldi had spent nearly 18 hours playing in his previous matches here, with his last two going the full five sets.

His ordeal was the longest time en route to a Grand Slam quarter-finals since records began in 1991.

“I’m tired, that’s for sure,” Arnaldi said. “But I train and I play tennis to play these kinds of tournaments and these kinds of matches. 

“Obviously today I was a little bit more tired than usual. I wasn’t as fast as I was in the first match, but I’m here and I’m enjoying my tennis again. 

“I was injured until not long ago so I’m just happy to be here and trying to give all I have.”

Berrettini had been hoping to become the fifth active men’s player to reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam events.

“It’s a tough one,” Arnaldi said. “We both played a lot, so it’s normal to not be at our best, but you never wish someone to end their tournament like this. 

“He did an amazing tournament. We are all doing such a good job in Italy. 

“I’m sorry for him and I hope he’s going to recover, because soon is going to be the grass and he is going to be very tough to play.”

Arnaldi’s season has been a study in contrasts after losing eight of his 10 first matches of 2026 as he dealt with a foot injury.  

Main photo:- Matteo Arnaldi wins quarter final – Roger Parker/ISF Ltd