MELBOURNE, Australia — On a rainy Sunday at Margaret Court Arena, Arthur Fils faced a real test against Otto Virtanen. Fils, who is seen by many as a rising star in tennis, was on the brink of losing a match he needed to win.
He was just a few points away from falling into a two-set hole. After making a couple of mistakes, he found himself trailing 4-5 in the second set. The pressure was on, and it felt like he might be the first big upset of the tournament. But then, something changed. With a powerful forehand and a solid backhand, he seemed to regain his focus.
A mistake and a double fault from Virtanen brought the score back to 5-5. Fils pulled through in the tiebreak and took control of the match, winning 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4. This performance showed just how far he has come since his earlier years on the tour.
Fils knows there’s always room for improvement. His goal is to enhance every part of his game: serve, return, and volleys. He’s not one to settle after making it to the top 20 in the rankings. He reflects on his journey, acknowledging that reaching the top isn’t easy.
“When you start moving up, you realize you have to work harder. It doesn’t just happen,” he said, recalling his earlier success when he reached the semifinals of his first tournaments at just 18.
Others see great potential in Fils. Ben Shelton mentioned that beating him in the Basel semifinals was a highlight for him. But Fils had bested Shelton just weeks earlier in a nail-biting match that went to three sets.
Despite the pressure, Fils exhibited calmness during key moments. As he improved, he learned to manage his emotions on the court. “Even if you’re down, you have to stay cool and see what happens next,” he explained.
Physically, Fils has the build of an athlete, standing at 6 feet 1 inch with strong shoulders and speed that impresses spectators. He’s been passionate about sports since a young age, trying football, judo, swimming, and athletics before focusing solely on tennis around age 13.
His breakthrough came after spending months competing on the Challenger Tour. A turning point was training with Rafael Nadal, who showed him what true dedication looks like. “Nadal goes all out, even in practice,” Fils noted, rubbing shoulders with someone who embodies determination.
Fils may not play like Nadal, but his forehand stands out. With incredible spin and speed, it ranks among the best on tour. He realizes the need to develop his game further, as shown by his shot quality statistics this past year. There’s plenty of room to enhance his serve and return game.
He recalls moments of falling into traps, like trying to hit flashy shots instead of sticking to the basics. “Sometimes it’s about keeping it simple and playing smart,” he admitted.
Last year, Fils faced many challenges, including adjusting to different court surfaces. Learning from experiences, he understands the importance of staying composed and resetting after setbacks. He reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, and while disappointed at the Paris Olympics, he bounced back to win another title in Tokyo.
As he continues to evolve in the sport, Fils has set clear goals for himself, focusing on improvement and consistency. His recent victory over Virtanen is a testament to his progress.
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