Arthur Fils overcame a tense match against Holger Rune, winning 7-6(8) 7-6(10) on Monday to secure his place in the final of the Japan Open, where he will face compatriot Ugo Humbert in Tokyo.
At just 20 years old, Fils is aiming for his second title of the year. Humbert reached the final after defeating Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic 6-3 3-6 6-2 in the earlier semi-final, and he is looking to claim his third hardcourt trophy of the year.
During the first tiebreak, Fils faced a setback when a close line call went against him while he had a set point, allowing Rune to level the score at 6-6. However, Fils maintained his composure and secured the set with a delicate backhand that prompted Rune to slam his racket in frustration.
In the second set, Fils took an early 2-0 lead after breaking Rune’s serve, but Rune responded by breaking back. The momentum shifted back and forth until the second set also went to a tiebreak. Fils raced to a 6-3 lead, but Rune saved five match points before Fils ultimately sealed his victory with a well-timed forehand, marking his fourth ATP final appearance.
Meanwhile, Humbert, currently ranked 19th in the world, recovered effectively after losing the second set to Machac, dominating the third set with an impressive performance and winning 13 of 14 first serve points, including four aces. He finished the match with a powerful forehand that secured his spot in the final.
Humbert has a perfect record in his six ATP finals to date and has triumphed over Fils in all their previous encounters this year.