Fils : “The plan? Spend as little time as possible on the court”
After dispatching Tsitsipas in straight sets (6-0, 6-1), we caught up with the Frenchman courtside – he talked efficiency, forehand gains, and a tattoo-worthy motto that sums up his approach to tennis.
Arthur Fils, portrait, 2026 | © JB Autissier / Open Occitanie
How would you describe your level tonight?
I played a great match. There are a couple of things I could have done better – I think I could have served better – but overall there’s not a lot to say. He is a great champion. I knew I was going to have to stand up, and today, thank God, I did.
Tsitsipas made 28 unforced errors tonight. How do you explain that?
He’s a great champion – he’s not going to wake up tomorrow making 28 unforced errors. But tonight, it came down to what I was able to throw at him. It goes both ways. I forced those mistakes. And everyone makes errors, it happens.
You took control early and never let him breathe. Is that the plan?
The goal isn’t to enjoy the evening. It’s to spend as little time as possible on the court, use as little energy as possible, and stay as focused as possible.
We’ve seen footage of your forehand progression – the shoulder rotation especially. Do you feel the difference in a fast-paced match like tonight?
Today I’m hitting the forehand really well. We’ve worked a lot on the technical side — the preparation helps me a lot. Especially in a match like tonight where the opponent can play very fast. Really happy with it, it’s working.
When I’m stepping on the court, I’m not here to be nice. I play my matches, and that’s it.
What are the main areas you’ve been working on lately?
Moving faster while spending less energy. I used to move pretty well but I’d finish matches with cramps. Now, with the work we’ve done, that’s not going to happen anymore – except if we play four or five hours, of course.
You had “Gabos” written on your camera. What does it mean to you?
It means “game ain’t based on sympathy” – and it talks to me a lot. When I’m stepping on the court, I’m not here to be nice. I play my matches, and that’s it. « Gabos ».
You play Valentin in the round of 16 – you’ve never faced each other. What do you expect?
I don’t have many expectations. We’ve never played. Since Shanghai he’s been playing really well, at a very high level. I’ll go out on the court, do my best, no pressure. It’s going to be a good match to play, that’s for sure.
