French Open LIVE: Cobolli and Zverev to meet in final after Arnaldi withdraws with illness

[p][b]19:00 CET - [/b]On that note, that will be all from our coverage today! We will be back tomorrow for the women's final, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Mirra Andreeva[/a] takes on surprise package [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chwalinska-maja/OIxOD54s/"]Maja Chwalinska[/a]![/p][embed guid="cbade802-fb7f-4e3e-b2ee-4baeb4b3dc9f" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2062585567913677314" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]18:41 CET - [/b]Well, that is a huge, huge shame. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arnaldi-matteo/hlVLAfZK/"]Matteo Arnaldi[/a] has had to withdraw from the all-Italian semi-final clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cobolli-flavio/zDtaCcPe/"]Flavio Cobolli[/a] due to illness.[/p][p]What a disappointing way for men's semi-final day to end, and a really sad way for Arnaldi's incredible run to come to a halt. Cobolli moves into the first Grand Slam final of his career as a result.[/p][p]So there we have it! The final is set for Sunday: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a] vs Flavio Cobolli. Zverev will be the massive favourite to clinch his first major title, but Cobolli will certainly offer a good test on his favourite surface.[/p][embed guid="f0780db0-aa8c-45f2-9556-5d7c739f0d59" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2062938790574870949" social-type="twitter" /][p]Zverev leads the head-to-head 3-1, winning their last meeting in Madrid. However, Cobolli did comfortably beat Zverev just before that on the clay courts of Munich. He produced an extraordinary level in that semi-final to overcome the German, and he will certainly have to replicate that to have a chance.[/p][p]A Grand Slam final across five sets is a completely different challenge, though, so we will just have to wait and see! [/p][p][b]17:44 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a] is into the second French Open final of his career, after a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mensik-j-UFj257G8/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=2FOmfoWO"]7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3[/a] victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] in just under three hours.[/p][p]The German suffered a blip in the third set, allowing Mensik a route back into the match. However, the world number three showed his pedigree and experience at this level, taking control of the contest to surge ahead and move into a fourth Grand Slam final.[/p][embed guid="3b893e9e-0228-4ecd-b94b-91f3ffeca989" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2062923318894751956" social-type="twitter" /][p]Zverev's serve continues to be one of his most reliable weapons, landing 75% first serves and hitting eight aces. He also showed a little more aggression than what we are used to seeing, hitting 42 winners. [/p][p]Mensik seemed to be running low on energy after the first set, and he just didn't have enough to be able to hurt Zverev consistently. Regardless, it has been an excellent two weeks for the Czech, reaching his first Slam semi-final.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="e00efdd5-e266-46e5-9a1c-3877a7114827" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="9ed2dba3-3e08-4b87-a1ad-0ee4d6febba4" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]For Zverev, he is now a win away from the holy grail. The best player to never win a major, he will never have a better chance. He will face the winner of the all-Italian clash between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/arnaldi-m-hlVLAfZK/cobolli-f-zDtaCcPe/?mid=j3aDamSk"]Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi[/a], which gets underway in just over an hour.[/p][p][b]17:00 CET - [/b]Where did that come from? [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] is back in this semi-final after taking the third set. Jakub Mensik took a medical time out early on, and that seemed to help refocus the Czech player, whilst also throwing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Sascha Zverev[/a] off his game.[/p][p]Mensik found the crucial break before going on to win the set [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mensik-j-UFj257G8/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=2FOmfoWO"]6-3.[/a][/p][image alt="Live win probability" id="2bd32943-e459-4cc8-913d-ba896ed212da" credit-line="Enetpulse" guid="868efbd5-0fd0-4169-9558-e71606deab19" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]15:14 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Sascha Zverev[/a] is cruising along now, taking the second set [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mensik-j-UFj257G8/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=2FOmfoWO"]6-2[/a] to close in on a fourth Grand Slam final, and a second at the French Open.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] has run out of gas, and it would be a major surprise if Zverev doesn't wrap things up soon.[/p][embed guid="01853417-c152-4a31-a237-b2e52428daff" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2062901250237092071" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]15:41 CET - [/b]First blood, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a]! The German has taken the opening set [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mensik-j-UFj257G8/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=2FOmfoWO"]7-5[/a] after a pretty competitive hour, eventually taking advantage of what is starting to look like a tiring [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a].[/p][p]The Czech has played a lot of tennis over the past two weeks, and his level began to drop towards the end of the set. And, as you would expect, Zverev capitalised, playing some really good tennis and showing bravery in big moments.[/p][embed guid="9902e0ed-d790-4d51-ac48-2072b9d93cc7" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2062892558099849367" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]14:35 CET - [/b]Finally, it is time for action! [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Sascha Zverev[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] are out on court, and the first semi-final is moments away.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mensik-j-UFj257G8/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=2FOmfoWO"]Follow the match live with Flashscore![/a][/b][/p][embed guid="70d16905-44f0-4089-908b-64bfe470ccc8" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2062875814052385180" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]09:00 CET -[/b] Good morning and welcome to semi-final Friday at Roland Garros! First up on this exciting day of tennis, world number three and favourite to claim his first Grand Slam, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a], takes on the coming-of-age [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] in a box-office clash. [/p][p]Zverev has been in imperious form in Paris so far, taking full advantage of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner's[/a] shock second-round exit to put himself in prime position to take the French Open crown. The German has dropped just a single set, coming in the last-16 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/halys-quentin/EDve8Ljh/"]Quentin Halys[/a].[/p][p]In addition, the way he dispatched [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jodar-rafael/OdngshVK/"]Rafael Jodar[/a] (one of the most exciting talents in the game) in the quarter-finals with such ease, even though Jodar was having an immense tournament, was a statement of intent.[/p][video alt="ATP French Open: Mensik Jakub - Zverev Alexander (video preview)" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="b7788294-3d20-4133-a84d-9a0079c51995" id="352f9014-a9ea-4812-be52-74b57fc3d585" /][p]Zverev means business and has come here with one very clear objective: win the French Open and end his Grand Slam curse.[/p][p]His opponent, Mensik, will be no walkover, however. Not only is Mensik one of the most talented and promising young players in men's tennis, but his all-around game has also looked more complete than at any other point in his career.[/p][p]His performance in victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Joao Fonseca[/a] (a player who some would suggest is more talented than Mensik) in a dominant and incredibly impressive three-set quarter-final was telling of a player who is coming into his own at Roland Garros this year and whose confidence is sky-high.[/p]