Arthur Fils advanced to the fourth round of the Italian Open, following his victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Fils got off to a slow start, but the Frenchman fought back into the game to win over three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The 20-year-old will now play the world number two, Alexander Zverev, whom Fils knocked out of the Miami Open.
Tsitsipas and Fils exchanged words at the net following an incident during their match, in which the Greek player hit the ball straight at his opponent to win a point.
The controversy sparked a fire in Fils, who said he used the incident to “find a way to go and fight.”
His comments at the end of the clash had the tennis world talking, including former US Open champion Andy Roddick, who weighed in.
Andy Roddick says he liked that Arthur Fils ‘got petty’ against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Italian Open
Speaking on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast after the match, Andy Roddick said: “I kind of liked that he got a little petty today.”
“He was going down and he found a way to interject himself into the match. He makes something out of nothing, ala John McEnroe.”
“You just shift the energy of the match when you need to. I like that he owned it, too. It was not like he was trying to make something up post-game. He was like, I needed energy, and that’s where I got it from.”
“On the Frenchman’s game, Roddick added: Fils just has the firepower not to let Stef have time. I think that is a real problem. Fils should be in the top 10 [to win Roland Garros], just on what we have seen consistently in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He is beating quality players.”
“He takes the racket out of your hand. The guy hits a massive, massive shot.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ underwhelming clay-court swing this season
Tsitsipas has been a clay-court specialist over the course of his career, with all three of his Masters 1000 titles coming on his preferred surface.
The world number 19 is yet to find his groove on the dirt in 2025, however, having not advanced past the quarter-final stage at any tournament since early April.
| Tournament | Result | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Monte-Carlo Masters | Quarter-Final | Lorenzo Muretti (L) |
| Barcelona Open | Quarter-Final | Arthur Fils (Retired) |
| Madrid Open | Third Round | Lorenzo Musetti (L) |
| Italian Open | Third Round | Arthur Fils (L) |
Tsitsipas’ title defence in Monte-Carlo ended in the quarter-final against Lorenzo Musetti, where the Italian emerged victorious over three sets.
He then had to retire due to injury at the Barcelona Open against his Italian Open conqueror Fils, despite being two games to the good.
Tsitsipas then crashed out of the Madrid Open in his second match at the tournament, falling once again to Musetti.
Roland Garros is the next tournament Tsitsipas will have eyes on, where he is a former finalist, making the final stage of the event in 2021 before losing to Novak Djokovic.
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