Paris, June 2: Matteo Arnaldi has secured his spot in the quarterfinals of the French Open 2026. In a gripping five-set match, Arnaldi defeated Frances Tiafoe, marking his first-ever entry into the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament.
The 25-year-old Italian player triumphed over the 19th-seeded American with scores of 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4. The match lasted an intense five hours and 26 minutes. Arnaldi has spent a total of 17 hours and 42 minutes on the court to reach the quarterfinals, setting a record for the longest time taken to reach this stage in any Grand Slam since 1991. This surpasses the previous record by nearly one hour and 58 minutes.
Both players fought fiercely in the opening set, but Tiafoe showcased his skills, taking a 4-1 lead in the fourth set. It seemed he was on track to reach the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. In the tiebreak, the 25-year-old Tiafoe displayed aggressive play, gaining the upper hand in several fast-paced rallies. However, Arnaldi made a remarkable comeback, executing a powerful backhand after leaping into the air, and soon secured the decisive points.
At this point, Arnaldi was in his rhythm, leveraging his impressive groundstrokes to establish a 4-2 lead. Nevertheless, Tiafoe refused to back down, leveling the score at 4-4 with a strong forehand. During the thrilling match, Tiafoe even fell twice in a single rally. After regaining control, Arnaldi converted his third match point into a victory.
Arnaldi will now face fellow Italian player Matteo Berrettini. Notably, Arnaldi, Berrettini, and Flavio Cobolli have achieved a historic milestone together. They are the first Italian players in the Open Era to reach the men’s singles quarterfinals of the same Grand Slam, setting a new record by all three advancing to the final eight simultaneously.
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