Arthur Fils opens up ahead of clash against Zverev: "I'll need to deliver a near-perfect performance"

After defeating Tiafoe in the third round of the Miami tournament (7-6, 5-7, 6-2), Arthur Fils joined Gaël Monfils among the French players qualified for the round of 16.

The 20-year-old has become the first French player to reach the round of 16 in both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season since Jérémy Chardy in 2018. He also overtakes Tiafoe in the ATP rankings, securing the 16th spot in the world.

Facing Zverev next, the French No. 1 reflected on the matchup in an interview reported by *L'Équipe*. He discussed his recovery after his last match and analyzed the German's game:

"I'm doing alright, I'll recover and everything will be fine. My elbow was a bit sore at the start, probably from the balls, I think. But I'm adjusting, so it’ll be okay.

He’s the world No. 2, the best player right now, obviously. I’ll have to give it my all. He’s a great server and plays very well from the baseline. To win this match, I’ll need to deliver a near-perfect performance.

That said, we know each other—we faced off three times last year. I know what to expect, and so does he. I’ll try to fight until the end, and we’ll see."