Teenage Frenchman Arthur Fils schooled Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) on Saturday to send the Greek out of the semi-finals at the ATP event in Antwerp.
The Belgian battering of the world No. 7 Greek put the 19-year-old winner into Sunday;s title match against Kazakh Alexander Bublik, who ended a desperation run of five consecutive first-round losses this season during the Belgian indoor week.
Fils, 19, who will crack the Top 35, will be seeking his second trophy of a breakthrough season after staring in January with a ranking outside the Top 250
The youngster secured the second Top-10 win of his career.
“I was very tight and my first serve just wouldn’t go [in]… so I said maybe it would be tough (serving out victory),” the winner said.
“He had some great points and I made some bad mistakes. “But I was very happy with how I played in the tie-break and now I will try to bring my best in the final.”
Double Grand Slam finalist Tsitsipas has managed only one title in 2023, and is fighting to secure a place in the fast-approaching eight-man ATP Finals next month in Turin.
