Arthur Fils produced a stunning upset at the Miami Open, defeating top-seeded Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Frenchman’s resilience and attacking play secured him one of the biggest wins of his young career, setting up a quarter-final clash with 19-year-old Czech, Jakub Mensik.
Fils battled back after dropping the first set, showing remarkable determination to surge 4-1 ahead in the second.
Though Zverev responded with an early 3-1 lead in the decider, Fils refused to back down, using his powerful forehand and agility to break back at 3-2 before taking control of the match at 4-3. Keeping his composure, he served out the match for a landmark victory.
The triumph was even more remarkable given that Fils revealed he was struggling with back pain during the contest.
“I was feeling not great in the rallies. I’ve had a little problem in my back since I was young, so sometimes it hurts me a little bit,” Fils admitted.
“I had to be more aggressive and not let him play, because when you let him play, he’s one of the best tennis players in the world. I’m really happy about the way I did it.”
The match, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was delayed due to rain, forcing both players to adjust to a revised schedule.
Despite the setback, Fils maintained his focus and became the first Frenchman since Gael Monfils in 2016 to reach the quarter-finals at both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.
Now, with a Masters 1000 semi-final spot at stake, Fils will look to continue his impressive run against Mensik as he aims for yet another career milestone.
