Arthur Fils Advances to Madrid SFs, Faces Jannik Sinner

Arthur Fils extended his winning streak to nine matches on Wednesday night at the Mutua Madrid Open. He defeated Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals in Madrid.

Fils previously lost to Lehecka in the semi-finals in Miami one month ago. This time, Fils showcased his powerful groundstrokes without facing a break point in the match.

The Frenchman achieved victory in 74 minutes on the Manolo Santana Stadium court. “I am very happy to be in the semis here,” Fils said, reflecting on his past struggles at the tournament.

Fils noted that he had not won a match or set in his previous two appearances. He emphasized, “When it is slow and heavier [conditions] I feel good.” Fils feels confident about his fitness for longer matches.

In the semi-finals, Fils will face World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who defeated Rafael Jodar earlier that day. Sinner currently leads their head-to-head series 1-0 and is on a 26-match winning streak at Masters 1000 events.

Fils has gained confidence from his recent performance, having won the ATP 500 event in Barcelona earlier in April. He has improved his game match by match in Madrid, defeating Ignacio Buse, Emilio Nava, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Lehecka.

He made history by becoming the first Frenchman to reach the Madrid semi-finals since the event transitioned to clay courts in 2009. Fils acknowledged the challenge against Sinner, stating, “It is a good battle.”

Fils praised Sinner as a champion, mentioning his wins at Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo. He aims to play his best tennis and enjoy the match.

Since returning to the Tour in February after an eight-month injury layoff, Fils has a record of 22-5. He is currently ranked No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.