Fils describes the special playing conditions of his 2nd round: "It feels like a Future match".

Arthur Fils came through in four sets against compatriot Quentin Halys to reach the 3rd round of the Australian Open.

However, the French No.2 had to contend with capricious weather, which interrupted the match at a key moment in the third set (the score was 6-5 in favor of Halys).

And when they returned to the court, the fans, who had been present before the interruption, were then much less numerous.

Fils spoke to L'Equipe about this special atmosphere: "It was a complicated match, with very difficult playing conditions.

These are two completely different tournaments when you play on big courts or small ones.

On a big court, you've got the roof over your head, you're not interrupted, you've got more distance. I had to find the mental resources. [...] But it's pretty crazy to think you're playing in a Grand Slam.

We're among the best players in the world, I'm 20th and it feels like a Future match.

That's what I said to myself during the break in the dressing room: 'If you want to play on the big courts, you have to go through these matches. Then maybe you'll get a bigger court.