Three Italian men have advanced to the Roland-Garros quarterfinals, marking a record for Italy at that stage of the same Grand Slam tournament. Matteo Berrettini, Matteo Arnaldi, and Flavio Cobolli will compete in the final eight alongside second-seeded Alexander Zverev and fourth-seeded Félix Auger-Aliassime, according to Infobea reporting from Paris.
How did the Italians reach the quarterfinals?
Berrettini defeated Argentine Juan Manuel Cerúndolo 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-6(6) to reach the quarterfinals for the second time in his career at Roland-Garros. At 28, he became the oldest quarterfinalista at the tournament since 2007 and is guaranteed to climb significantly in the rankings, approaching the top 50. Arnaldi advanced past American Frances Tiafoe 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 after Tiafoe had led two sets to one and 4-1 in the fourth set. Cobolli reached the quarterfinals for the first time, having been the only player to reach the round of 16 without dropping a set until he lost one to American Zachary Svajda, 6-2.
What does this mean for Italian tennis?
Italy's three-man quarterfinal contingent reflects the strength of the nation's tennis despite the absence of its top two players. Lorenzo Musetti is sidelined by injury, and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner exited in the second round after struggling in the heat. The Italian presence underscores the depth and momentum building in the men's game across the country.
Who are the other contenders?
Zverev, seeded second, is pursuing his first Grand Slam title. Auger-Aliassime, seeded fourth, has never reached a major final. A new generation of players, including João Fonseca, Rafael Jódar, and Jakub Mensik, has also made an impact on the draw. The quarterfinal stage features no clear favourite heading into the final eight.
Sources
- Infobae: La fiesta italiana. EFE, 2026-06-01.
Reported from public sources.