Cobolli into final as virus-struck Arnaldi pulls out of French Open

Key points

• Tenth seed Flavio Cobolli will ​take on German second seed Alexander Zverev in ⁠final after Matteo Arnaldi withdrawal.
• Italy’s Flavio Cobolli said he was “sad and happy at the same time” after reaching his first Grand Slam final at the French Open on Friday, following the last-minute withdrawal due to illness of his last-four opponent and compatriot Matteo Arnaldi.
• The 24-year-old 10th seed will meet Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final, which will produce a new major champion, after the German second seed earlier moved past Jakub Mensik in the other semi-final.
• Just more than 20 minutes before Cobolli and Arnaldi were due to take to Court Philippe Chatrier, tournament organisers announced that the 104th-ranked Italian had been forced to pull out with a “virus”.
• “When he came to me almost one hour ago, I almost cried.