Miami
Fils saves 4 MPs, stuns Paul in Miami thriller
Frenchman rallies from 2/6 in the deciding-set tie-break
March 26, 2026
Rich Storry/Getty Images
Arthur Fils is the youngest French ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist since 2007.
By Grant Thompson
Arthur Fils dramatically saved four match points to escape Tommy Paul on Wednesday at the Miami Open presented by Itau.
In one of the matches of the season, the 21-year-old spoiled the hopes of the home favourite Paul 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 7-6(6) to reach his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. Fils, who was unable to break Paul’s serve throughout the two-hour, 47-minute clash, tallied six consecutive points from 2/6 in the deciding-set tie-break to advance.
“It was a dog fight and I never back down from a fight,” Fils said in his on-court interview. “Even if I lose, it’s okay, I just fought the best that I could.”
What a fighter @ArthurFils is! ❤️@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/NfpeLUbE03
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2026
The 28th seed produced relentless aggression throughout the night, pummeling the ball harder and harder as the match wore on. Fils entered Wednesday’s match 0-4 in ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finals, including a defeat in that round earlier this month in Indian Wells. By advancing to the last four, Fils became the youngest French ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist since a 21-year-old Richard Gasquet in 2007 (Paris).
“That’s the best result I’ve had in my life so far,” said Fils. “I will try to do my best in the semis, but now I’m pretty happy.”
Up next for Fils is 21st seed Jiri Lehecka, whom the Frenchman leads 2-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Their most recent meeting came in the Doha quarter-finals last month, which Fils won 6-3, 6-3.
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