Fils upsets Tsitsipas and awaits Zverev in Rome's round of 16

Arthur Fils faced Stefanos Tsitsipas this Sunday in Rome. The Frenchman could approach this match with confidence, having won all three of their previous encounters.

However, it was Tsitsipas who took the first set 6-2. The second set was a fierce 50-minute battle, which Fils ultimately won. He immediately took control in the third set with an early break.

In the end, the Frenchman triumphed 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, though the match concluded with a somewhat tense handshake between the two players. Still, Fils downplayed the tension: "Stefanos is a great champion, one of the best on clay. We just talked about the point he played against me, but there’s no issue."

"I managed to turn the match around in the second set—it was a great fight, and I’m very happy with how it played out."

In the next round, Fils will face either Alexander Zverev or Vilius Gaubas.