The 25-year-old said the difficult decision was made after suffering vomiting overnight on Thursday.

“It's tough because for how the tournament was, for how many hours I spent on court, I was feeling actually very good,” he said. “To have to withdraw from the first Slam semifinal is not something that you wish to anybody.

“I tried to get ready and tried to stay as much as I could here and tried to see if I could go on court, but every time I get up, I feel dizzy, and I don't feel like the best. I'm pretty sure if I eat again, I'm not going to feel good. That was the right decision for me to take.”

Arnaldi said a doctor was called early Friday morning and despite taking medication in the hope he would be well enough to take the court, he was unable to keep food or drinks down throughout the day.

“Yesterday I was feeling okay. I came here to practise. I did everything I had to do, and I was feeling fine. Then I had dinner. I started to feel so-so with my stomach. I was, like, ‘All right, just didn't digest very well’,” he said.

“But then I woke up at 1am, and I started vomiting, and I wasn't feeling the best. Then I tried to sleep. I couldn't sleep at all. At 6, 7am I vomited again. This time was pretty bad… I think I had a fever during the day. I don't know, to be honest.

“I just know that I can't move, and I can't eat, and I can't drink. So, it's, like, there was really no way that I will be able to play.”

Cobolli had reached his first major semifinal after an upset of fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets.

It was a bittersweet feeling ahead of facing Zverev for the fifth time with the winner to claim their maiden Grand Slam title.

“When he [Matteo] came to me almost one hour ago, I almost cried,” he said. “You know, it's something that you don't expect at all. I was ready to play this match. When he came, I was completely sad for him.

“But, at the same time, of course I'm really happy for the result that I reached this week. My dad also came to me right before him, and we had a big hug together with the whole team for achieving for the top 10.

“Every time that I make the best ranking, we all together have a big hug. We did the same routine as always. Now I'm sad and happy at the same time.”

Cobolli was unsure whether the extra day off would help or hinder his cause on Sunday against the No.2 seed, who earlier beat Jakub Mensik in four sets to reach his fourth Slam final.

 “Maybe having almost four days off is a lot, so you lose the rhythm, but I think also during warming up, I played really well. Now I got practice again,” he said.

“I think I will be ready, for sure, for the final, but I also know that I will be fresh, for sure. Maybe it helped; maybe not. I tell you after the final.”