Fils: “I’m back to my level, time to push higher”
Arthur Fils reached his fifth Masters 1000 quarter-final in Miami without dropping a single service game across the entire tournament. The Frenchman spoke about his serve, his forehand technique, his injury comeback – and why he sees scores to settle with whoever comes next.
Arthur Fils, Miami 2026 | © Photo by Dax Tamargo/Shutterstock/SIPA
Arthur, how would you describe your level today against Vacherot?
Arthur Fils: It was a good match, not an easy one – Valentin plays very well, he serves very well too. I had to stay really focused on my service games. I tried to steal a few points on return, managed to break him twice. Overall it was a good battle. We both played well. I hope we’ll have more of those.
Valentin said that on certain balls, you were hitting much harder than other players would – balls where someone else would just push it back, you were going for it, and it was going in every time. That’s why he kept finding himself in trouble.
Arthur Fils: Valentin is a very good player. When I step on the court, I know I have to play my best tennis and I can’t let him play freely, because if you let Valentin play, you can find yourself losing 6-2, 6-2 in 40 minutes. I tried to hit hard, do my best, and today it worked. We work hard for it to work like that.
You’ve changed the forehand technique, with a shorter backswing. What was the reasoning?
Arthur Fils: Today was a hot day and the court was very fast. If you start with a big swing in those conditions, it’s not easy, and that goes for everyone, not just me. The shorter swing just works better. And it’s working.
With no Alcaraz in the draw anymore, do you think you can win this thing?
Arthur Fils: I don’t know, I’m just trying to focus on the next round.
You said on court after the Tsitsipas match that you were back – like you’d never been away. Do you feel like you’re better than you were before your injury?
Arthur Fils: For sure, I’ve improved in a lot of areas. I think I’m back to my level now. I’ve been playing a lot of matches, that’s a good thing. I just need to stay focused. Then we’ll see if I can push even higher.
The recovery? it wasn’t that tough. I almost enjoyed it, actually
You shut down for a long time after your injury. How hard was that, and do you feel the benefits now of not rushing back?
Arthur Fils: Every time you ask me this, I say the same thing — it wasn’t that tough. I almost enjoyed it, actually. You need to embrace the process, and I did. It wasn’t easy, but my team and my family really helped me through it. And now I see the benefits. We changed a few things — the movement, taking better care of my body. I feel good and I’m back at a great level.
On your serve specifically — you haven’t dropped a single service game since the start of the tournament. What’s behind that?
Arthur Fils: It’s working really well. I’m focused on my spots, I’m mixing it up. We’re doing great work as a team — with Ivan (Ljubicic) and Goran (Ivanisevic), but Ivan in particular on the serve. The work is paying off now. I hope it continues, and there’s no reason it should stop.
You said the other day – “no sympathy in this game.” Talk about that philosophy.
Arthur Fils: When you step on the court, it’s two men battling to win. There’s no sympathy. It has to be me.
“Let’s f***ing go” — yeah, that one’s cool. But sometimes i pay fines
Is this tournament turning into a French Open with all your compatriots here? Atmane, Humbert, Moutet — what’s going on with the French contingent?
Arthur Fils: I don’t even know what’s happening right now — is Humbert playing? Is he winning? Yeah, there are a lot of French guys here and I’m very happy about it. Terence Atmane got a great win yesterday, very happy for him. Ugo is back on track, doing pretty good. We are doing a great job.
Last year you were cruising here until your back gave out – quarters again this year. You clearly love this place. But with no Alcaraz in the draw, do you think you can actually win this thing?
Arthur Fils:I did quarters last year, quarters again now — I’m very happy with the way I’m playing and I just need to keep doing the same thing. I love being in Miami, I love the courts, I love the atmosphere, the crowd supports me a lot here. And yeah — no Alcaraz? [smiles] I don’t know, man. I’m just trying to focus on the next round.
Q: I have to ask — I enjoy how much you curse in English on the court. “Let’s f*ing go” seems to be a personal favourite. Does your mouth ever get you in trouble?
Arthur Fils:You heard me? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look, I curse in English because my coach has to understand it — it’s not like I’m talking to myself, I’m talking to him. So that’s why it’s in English. But I do try not to. “Let’s f***ing go” — yeah, that one’s cool. But sometimes… yeah, sometimes I have to pay some fines.
