#NextGenATP Frenchman Fils Books Sinner Rematch In Marseille
Arthur Fils continued his red-hot form in France with another victory in his home nation Wednesday at the Open 13 Provence. After a run to the final of a Quimper ATP Challenger Tour event in January and the semis of the ATP 250 in Montpellier earlier this month, the 18-year-old wild card is off the mark this week in Marseille.
Fils opened his campaign with a power-packed 6-4, 6-3 win against Roman Safiullin, setting a rematch with Jannik Sinner less than two weeks after the Italian beat him in the Montpellier semis.
"I did a great match. I was really focused on every point, I served pretty good," said the Frenchman. "I just had one break point against me, but it was a good match and I'm happy about it."
ALLEZ ARTHUR! ????@ArthurFils1 powers past Safiullin 6-4 6-3 to move on in Marseille@Open13 #open13provence pic.twitter.com/wprB96OTiY
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 22, 2023
Fils did not face a break point against Safiullin until he was serving at 4-3 in the second set. Facing ad-out, he won six points in a row to set up triple match point on return, ultimately sealing the win on his second chance.
Fils fired six aces in the one-hour, 25-minute match and won 82 per cent (27/33) of his first-serve points. His brutal ball-striking throughout kept Safiullin on the back foot and thrilled the centre court crowd, which joined him in his celebrations following the victory.
After starting the 2023 season outside the Top 250, Fils is now up to No. 116 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, potentially two wins away from a spot in the Top 100. He will next face the second-seeded Sinner, looking for revenge after the Italian's 7-5, 6-2 win in Montpellier. Sinner went on to win that event, where he was also the second seed.
Benjamin Bonzi made it two French winners on Wednesday with a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 victory against fifth seed Maxime Cressy. Bonzi advanced to the quarter-finals with that result, joining Alexander Bublik, a 6-4, 6-2 winner against France's Gregoire Barrere.
Stan Wawrinka also progressed to the quarters behind a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win against seventh-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Wawrinka, who also won a three-setter in his opening win against Zizou Bergs, awaits the winner of the match between Sinner and Fils.
"I was fighting. He was dictating the match at the beginning," Wawrinka said of his second-round win. "I got back into the match in the second set and I was feeling much better, I was playing more aggressive."
In first-round action, Michael Ymer downed Radu Albot 6-3, 7-6(5). He will next meet sixth seed David Goffin.