At this week’s Sud de Open in Montpellier a new teenage prodigy has announced himself to the main stage.
18-year-old Arthur Fils was ranked outside the world’s top 600 12 months ago but has since rapidly risen up the ATP standings. In Montpellier, the wildcard stunned the draw by producing wins over Richard Gasquet, fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut and Quentin Halys to reach his first ATP semi-final. This week is only the second time Fils has played in the main draw of a Tour-level event after qualifying for the Paris Masters last year where he lost in the first round to Fabio Fognini.
The Frenchman had already shown the potential he has on the junior circuit. In 2020 he won the prestigious Orange Bowl boys’ singles title. The following year he enjoyed double success at the French Open junior event by reaching the final of the singles tournament and winning the doubles title with Mpetshi Perricard. He also made his senior Grand Slam debut at the 2021 French Open in the qualifying rounds where he stunned former top 20 player Bernard Tomic.
This year Fils has already proved that he is a force to be reckoned with after winning 12 out of 13 matches played heading into his semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner in Montpellier. Last month he won a Challenger event in the Portuguese city of Oeiras and was then runner-up at another in Quimper, Frace.
So what has triggered his rise in recent weeks? Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Fills says his decision to start working with Laurent Raymond has paid off. Raymond is the former coach of Corentin Moutet.
“I’ve made a lot of progress in this pre-season,” Tennis Majors quoted the 18-year-old as saying. “For four years I was with Jerome Pottier, he trained me and it went really well. Now with Laurent Raymond, it’s a new collaboration that is going very well, he helps me in the tactical and mental areas and that helps me pass a milestone.”
Work has also been done on the mental aspect of Fils’ game with him working alongside Francisca Dauzet who was once Daniil Medvedev’s mental trainer and now works for the French Tennis Federation.
“I’ve been working with her since the beginning of the year and it’s been working well,” he said. “She helps me to manage the important moments during the matches, to breathe, to be clear-headed and focused.”
Fils started 2023 ranked 251st in the world but has already halved that position within six weeks. Regardless of how he performs in his clash with Sinner on Saturday, he is projected to rise to at least 117th which is a jump of 46 places in a week. He will crack the top 100 if he wins the title.
As for dealing with the pressure, Fils is not fazed by the prospect of being compared to other youngsters such as Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune who are both a year older than him.
“I try to detach myself from it. When I see Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune (both born in 2003), all these guys, winning Grand Slams, making finals, I say to myself that Top 150 is good but it’s not the biggest thing at the moment.” He said.
“When you see Carlos winning the US Open playing great, you think you can do the same, you try to do the same and they are examples, you try to make the best of it. It’s a source of motivation.”
Should Fils reach the final in Montpellier he will become the first player born in 2004 or after to do so on the ATP Tour. Furthermore, he would become the youngest French finalist since Gasquet in 2004.
“I can still progress everywhere. I can serve better, return better, attack better, be more solid, I still have a lot of work to do…” He admits.
“I’m also working on my footwork with my physical trainer, I enjoy going fast on the court, I like to run, move quickly forward but it’s a pretty natural quality, I’m working on it but it doesn’t make much difference to me whether I work on it or not. Either way, I’m always fast.”
