Fils fell to Lehecka in the semi-finals in Miami one month ago, but ensured he would not suffer more late-stage ATP Masters 1000 heartbreak against the Czech in Madrid. Under the lights on Manolo Santana Stadium, the Frenchman earned a 6-3, 6-4 win to reach the semi-finals at the clay-court event.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old stood close to the baseline to dictate with his heavy groundstrokes and was impressive on serve, not facing a break point to triumph after 74 minutes.<\/p>\n
“I am very happy to be in the semis here, as the last two years, I had never won a match or a set here, so to be in the semis feels very good,” Fils said after reaching his second Masters 1000 semi-final. “When it is slow and heavier [conditions] I feel good. I know with my fitness, I can hold for three or four hours in these conditions. I feel very good.”<\/p>\n
Fils will meet World No. 1 Jannik Sinner<\/a> in the semi-finals on Friday after the Italian beat Rafael Jodar<\/a> earlier on Wednesday. Sinner leads the pair\u2019s Lexus ATP Head2Head series 1-0 and has won his past 26 matches at Masters 1000 level, but Fils will take confidence from his recent form.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old lifted the trophy at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona earlier in April and has improved match by match in Madrid, defeating Ignacio Buse<\/a>, Emilio Nava<\/a>, Tomas Martin Etcheverry<\/a> and Lehecka to become the first Frenchman to reach the semi-finals in the Spanish capital since the event moved to clay courts in 2009.<\/p>\n “It is a good battle,” Fils said on facing Sinner. “He is the World No. 1, he is a big champion. He won Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo. I am going to try my best and play my best tennis and enjoy myself on the court. It is nice to come on the court as an underdog.”<\/p>\n Fils is 22-5, according to the ATP Infosys Win\/Loss Index, since returning to Tour in February following an eight-month layoff for a back injury. The four-time tour-level titlist is up to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings following his latest victory.<\/p>\n