A Shattered Racket but Victory in the End: Fils Defeats Tiafoe in Miami Third Round

After a spectacular match, Arthur Fils emerged victorious against Frances Tiafoe (7-6, 5-7, 6-2) in the third round of the Miami Masters 1000.

The showdown between two closely ranked players (17th and 16th in the world) promised excitement, and the spectacle delivered. The first-set tiebreak, won by Fils after 24 points (13-11) and five saved set points, set the tone.

Confident, Fils then earned two match points at 5-4 on Tiafoe’s serve. On the first, his forehand attack landed out. On the second, despite a strong net approach, Tiafoe forced an error with a well-placed passing shot.

Frustrated, the Frenchman lost the next three games, leading to a deciding set after over two hours of play—his racket paying the price (see video below).

Despite this setback, Fils refused to surrender. He fought back, converting his third break point of the match at 3-2. Tiafoe then unraveled, allowing the French No. 1 to cruise to victory and secure another Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

Next, he’ll face Alexander Zverev, whom he notably defeated in last year’s Hamburg final.