Arthur Fils: The Rising Star of French Tennis Takes on the World

He is the face of the future of French tennis which we can once again consider bright. Truth be told, the statement perhaps doesn’t do it enough justice. Because through his performances this season, Arthur Fils already embodies the present. Now 38th player in the world, isn’t he in the fight for the place of French number 1? Better: beyond this Franco-French prism, Arthur Fils already stands out internationally. Winner of Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-final in Antwerp last week, he once again showed that the level of a Top 10 did not impress him more than that, he who had inflicted a little spanking on Casper Ruud on the clay court of Hamburg in the heart of summer.

At 19 years old, the youngest member of the world’s top 50 already seems made for big matches, facing renowned opponents. And for his entry into the running in Vienna, he will be served against the world number 3 and defending champion. “I’m not going to enter the court and not win against Daniil Medvedev. I’m going to try to win, do my best and have fun because I know he’s an incredible player. He won a Grand Slam and has also played finals at this level. He plays really well, especially on hard. We’ll see what happens, let’s have fun!”, he said in front of the circuit cameras before the tournament , true to himself.

I want to win tournaments, not lose in the final

Uninhibited and ambitious, Fils is already making an impression with his champion character. He contrasts with some of his elders who perhaps did not allow themselves enough to assert their goals and to dream for fear of appearing arrogant. And he can afford it all the more since he has matched actions with words with more than 200 places gained in one season, a title (Lyon) and a final (Antwerp) on the circuit, and therefore two Top 10s beaten . Many would be satisfied with what can be described as an explosion at the highest level, not him.

Like in a dream: Son’s feat against Tsitsipas

“It’s been a good week and above all a good year. It’s true that I started the season 250 (251st exactly, Editor’s note), so I’m happy to be 38th now. Afterwards, I have objectives: I’m trying to get seeded status in Australia, it’s not easy. If I had won the final, it would have brought me a little closer, but that’s how it is. I still quite a few cartridges: Vienna, Bercy, maybe Metz, so an exciting end to the season,” said Fils in “Bartoli Time” on RMC a few hours after losing to Alexander Bublik in Belgium.

And the person concerned clarified his thoughts: “I knew that I was capable of progressing quickly, but it’s another thing to do it. And I’m very happy to have succeeded. But hey, when I see that Carlos (Alcaraz) and Holger (Rune) are both Top 10, the first has already won Grand Slams, the second a Masters 1000, I tell myself that this is what I do, but that I am still good far from it. I’m happy, but if I could go even faster, I would go faster. When you’re a tennis player, you want to win tournaments, not lose in the final.”

The elders save him time

The stat that propels Fils towards an intense and promising 2024 season

“These three played at a very high level, they had a great ranking. They were all Top 10, well Seb’ and Ivan, that’s for sure. I don’t know about ‘Paulo’ but he doesn’t was not far from it either (12th in the world at best, Editor’s note). They help me enormously in terms of experience, whether on or off the court. The advice they give me is always perfect”, added estimated Son on the sidelines of the Vienna tournament.

A young man in a hurry and ambitious, Fils gives himself every chance of success. His personality also seduced the glorious veterans including a reborn Gaël Monfils at the end of the season and just titled in Stockhölm. “I don’t want anyone to put pressure on him. He has great things to do, he’s going to do them alone, he’s off to a good start, and I’m more protective of him, insisted La Monf’ in Sweden. I don’t want anyone to dispel him. He has his own big expectations and we all have to support him. Whether it’s you, the journalists, the fans or us, the elders. We all want him to reach the highest potential, which is enormous. We all want the best for him. He enjoys it, he plays well, he gets to know the circuit, and we are here for him. push, so that it goes as far as possible.”

How far ? The main person concerned does not yet know it himself. But one thing is certain: he does not set limits for himself. And given his trajectory, he is right. New major performance against Medvedev or not on Wednesday, we can’t wait to see him at work at Bercy and then in 2024.

2023-10-24 22:17:00
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