We doubted. Enormously. But Arthur Fils is back. After missing eight months of competition between August 2025 and February 2026, due to a back injury, the Frenchman put his physical problems behind him to return to a very good level. After a final at the ATP 500 in Doha in February and a quarter-final at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells two weeks ago, Fils is again in the quarter-final at the Masters 1000 in Miami.
The one who is just old enough to buy alcohol in the United States beat the Monegasque Valentin Vacherot (6-4, 6-7, 6-4) after a little over two hours of play in a high quality match in order to return to the quarters in Florida, like last year, where he was taken out by the future winner Jakub Mensik. But, this year, there is no question of stopping there, seeing his part of the table depopulated of top 10.
“Stay focused to reach higher”
Arthur Fils faces the American Tommy Paul (28 years old, 23rd) this Wednesday against whom he hopes to reach his first semi-final in a tournament of this level. He could find either the Czech Jiri Lehecka (24 years old, 22nd), or the surprising Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce (20 years old, 151st), winner on Tuesday of the American Sebastian Korda (36th), who himself had beaten Carlos Alcaraz. 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.
“I have improved in many areas,” explained Fils at a press conference, in comments reported by The Team. I won quite a few matches. It’s cool, there are a lot of positives. But you have to stay focused like that to reach higher. It’s not easy, I play against good players, when we get to the quarter-finals, everyone plays well. Tommy Paul is in good shape, he beat me once. I have a revenge to take, we’ll see what happens. »
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