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.
Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…
Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…
Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…
Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…
Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…
Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…