[Singles — Second Round]
Arthur Fils (France) def. Frances Tiafoe (USA), 6-3, 7-5
■ Asked about facing Fils in the second round, Tiafoe said, “It’s rare for two top 10 players to meet in the second round.” Indeed, since the ATP Tour was launched in 1990, there had been only one previous instance of two top 10 players meeting in the second round of a tour-level tournament. Fils entered the tournament late, forcing him to go through qualifying and leaving him unseeded. For fans, however, it meant that a marquee matchup rarely seen so early in a tournament became a bonus attraction.
■ As expected, it was a fiercely contested match. Fils attacked with powerful, accurate shots, while Tiafoe responded with heavy hitting and tenacity. Playing his fourth match since entering qualifying, Fils covered the court as if he were playing in his own backyard. Because he gets himself into positions before striking the balls, the quality of his shots was consistently high, and he often dictated the rallies.
■ Fils broke serve at 3-2 in the first set and went on to take it 6-3. In the second set, he created break-point opportunities with Tiafoe serving at 5-5. Tiafoe saved the first by winning a long rally and hitting a forehand down the line. But on the second break point, he committed a painful double fault. He had fought hard to stay alive, but in the end he could not hold on and finally buckled under the pressure.
■ Fils’ first words after the match were, “I had a great match against a very, very good player who is also a good friend.” There is little doubt that facing the world No. 8 brought out the best in the 2024 champion. The crowd support appeared to be leaning toward Tiafoe, who already had a reputation as a nice guy and had won even more recognition with his first-round victory over Kei Nishikori (Uniqlo). But Fils, who has now won eight straight matches in Ariake, including qualifying, also enjoyed the atmosphere of the crownd in the stands, saying, “I really love this place.”
■ Fils’ performance shows how well-rounded his game is at the moment, both physically and mentally. He had a disappointing first-round exit at the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, but took some time off before returning to training. “I pushed my body to the limit and got myself into good condition,” he said. Judging by how well he is moving, playing two qualifying matches may actually have benefited him. He has overcome the hurdle of facing the No. 2 seed, but says he is “already looking ahead to the quarterfinals.” With his sights set on winning a second title, he shows no sign of letting up.
(Japan Tennis Association)
