Miami
\n Fils saves 4 MPs, stuns Paul in Miami thriller<\/p>\n
Frenchman rallies from 2\/6 in the deciding-set tie-break<\/p>\n
March 26, 2026<\/p>\n
Rich Storry\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Arthur Fils is the youngest French ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist since 2007.
\n By Grant Thompson<\/p>\n
Arthur Fils<\/a> dramatically saved four match points to escape Tommy Paul<\/a> on Wednesday at the Miami Open presented by Itau<\/a>. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n What a fighter @ArthurFils<\/a> is! \u2764\ufe0f@MiamiOpen<\/a> | #MiamiOpen<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/NfpeLUbE03<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n The 28th seed produced relentless aggression throughout the night, pummeling the ball harder and harder as the match wore on.\u00a0Fils entered Wednesday\u2019s 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<\/a> in 2007 (Paris).<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Up next for Fils is 21st seed Jiri Lehecka<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n You May Also Like: No cookies & a travelling physio: The changes that carried Fils from setback to surge<\/a><\/p>\n