French Open 2026 results: Flavio Cobolli beats Felix Auger-Aliassime to set up all-Italian semi-final
Cobolli, who revealed many of his superstitions in his on-field interview, such as thanking the crowd in French, maintaining the same racket tension no matter the conditions, and maintaining a post-match routine, was asked about these at the press conference.
“I’m a little bit [superstitious] But I’m not crazy; “This week I’m a little crazier than the others,” he said. “I’m going to the same restaurant, the same menu, the same shower.”
Cobolli later recalled a moment when he was using the shower at a previous French Open when Nadal knocked on the door and asked him to hurry because he was waiting to use the room.
“He told me he had been showering for 14 years,” Cobolli continued. “That’s why I think the best thing I ever did was shower.”
After losing the first set, Cobolli recovered by beating Auger-Aliassime 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4, and if Jakub Mensik, who faced Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final, cannot win the championship in Paris, he will play his first match in the top 10 on Monday.
Arnaldi’s victory in the Wednesday night session means he is assured of an Italian final despite overwhelming favorite Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti being knocked out of the tournament through injury despite a shock second-round elimination.
