Arthur Fils continues to prove himself as one of the most exciting young talents on the ATP Tour, winning the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. In a dramatic final, the #NextGenATP Frenchman saved a championship point before pulling off a 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3 victory against fellow countryman Ugo Humbert. This marks Fils' third tour-level title and his second ATP 500 triumph of the season.
The 20-year-old Frenchman’s resilience was on full display during the three-hour, five-minute battle. Fils, who struggled with an apparent injury to his left leg, looked exhausted midway through the match. Yet, he found a way to turn things around after being on the brink of defeat. “Honestly, I don’t know [how I turned it around],” Fils admitted after the match. “After 5-all in the first, I was feeling dead on the court… I tried my best into the second set and then I saved one match point. Everything in tennis can turn in only one second, and it turned.”
Fils’ title run was nothing short of remarkable. He defeated four Top 20 opponents in Tokyo, including top seed Taylor Fritz, defending champion Ben Shelton, Holger Rune, and finally Humbert. His semi-final victory against Rune was particularly hard-fought, requiring two tie-break sets. His victory in Tokyo follows his breakthrough win at the Hamburg Open in July, where he claimed his first ATP 500 title.
The final against Humbert seemed to be slipping away when Fils fell to 3-4 and 0/40 on his serve in the second set. But in a stunning turn of events, Fils saved all three break points and forced a tie-break. Facing a championship point at 5/6, Fils produced one of the best shots of the match, a brilliant backhand pass to keep his hopes alive. He went on to win three straight points to level the match.
“I think it’s the best backhand I hit all week,” Fils said, reflecting on the pivotal moment. “It was crazy. I tried my best and it went perfectly.”
Fils carried that momentum into the deciding set, securing a crucial break in the eighth game before sealing the victory with an ace. His powerful serving was key, winning 80% of points behind his first serve and not facing a single break point in the third set.
With this win, Fils became the second-youngest champion in the tournament's history and extended his lead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. His Tokyo triumph not only solidifies his status as a rising star but also highlights his ability to perform under pressure, no matter the circumstances.