Match Report
Fils continues red-hot run, faces Sinner in Madrid SFs
Frenchman meets Sinner in the last four
April 29, 2026
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Arthur Fils is the first Frenchman to reach the semi-finals in Madrid since the event moved to clay courts in 2009.
By Sam Jacot
Arthur Fils extended his winning streak to nine matches on Wednesday night at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he gained revenge against Jiri Lehecka in the Spanish capital.
Fils fell to Lehecka in the semi-finals in Miami one month ago, but ensured he would not suffer more late-stage ATP Masters 1000 heartbreak against the Czech in Madrid. Under the lights on Manolo Santana Stadium, the Frenchman earned a 6-3, 6-4 win to reach the semi-finals at the clay-court event.
The 21-year-old stood close to the baseline to dictate with his heavy groundstrokes and was impressive on serve, not facing a break point to triumph after 74 minutes.
“I am very happy to be in the semis here, as the last two years, I had never won a match or a set here, so to be in the semis feels very good,” Fils said after reaching his second Masters 1000 semi-final. “When it is slow and heavier [conditions] I feel good. I know with my fitness, I can hold for three or four hours in these conditions. I feel very good.”
Fils will meet World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals on Friday after the Italian beat Rafael Jodar earlier on Wednesday. Sinner leads the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series 1-0 and has won his past 26 matches at Masters 1000 level, but Fils will take confidence from his recent form.
The 21-year-old lifted the trophy at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona earlier in April and has improved match by match in Madrid, defeating Ignacio Buse, Emilio Nava, Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Lehecka to become the first Frenchman to reach the semi-finals in the Spanish capital since the event moved to clay courts in 2009.
“It is a good battle,” Fils said on facing Sinner. “He is the World No. 1, he is a big champion. He won Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo. I am going to try my best and play my best tennis and enjoy myself on the court. It is nice to come on the court as an underdog.”
Fils is 22-5, according to the ATP Infosys Win/Loss Index, since returning to Tour in February following an eight-month layoff for a back injury. The four-time tour-level titlist is up to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings following his latest victory.
