Sports

Arthur Fils Claims Japan Open Title with Triumph Over Ugo Humbert in the Final

Fils overcame pain in his left leg and launched a successful comeback against French compatriot Humbert in the Japan Open final at Ariake Coliseum.

Published

1 month ago

October 2, 2024

Ed Odeven

Arthur Fils in action during the Japan Open men's singles final against fellow Frenchman Ugo Humbert on October 1, 2024, at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo. (©Kyung Hoon Kim/REUTERS)

Read the full story on SportsLook - Arthur Fils Claims Japan Open Title with Triumph Over Ugo Humbert in the Final

Arthur Fils dropped the opening set of the Japan Open men's singles final on Tuesday night, October 1. But he kept his composure and earned his second ATP Tour title of 2024.

Fils defeated French compatriot Ugo Humbert in Tokyo 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 in a 3-hour, 4-minute match at Ariake Coliseum.

It was the first all-French matchup in a tournament final since 2020 on the ATP Tour. And both participants are very familiar with each other's game. Fils and Humbert were doubles partners at the Paris Olympics.

Fils, 20, sealed his hard-fought comeback victory with an ace.

After the match, Fils, who was slowed down by pain in his left leg in the second set, insisted it was an improbable triumph.

"Honestly I don't know [how I turned it around]," the world No 24 said. "After 5-all in the first [set], I was feeling dead on the court. He was playing unbelievable shots. It was a very tight first set. I got a lot of break points and didn't break. He's such a great champion and it was very tough."

Fils continued: "I tried my best in the second set and then I saved one match point. Everything in tennis can turn in only one second, and it turned. So I'm very happy, but I could have lost today."

In July, Fils won his first tournament of the year, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1) in the Hamburg Open final.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.