In perhaps the match of the year so far on the ATP Tour, Arthur Fils outlasted Tommy Paul 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 7-6(6) in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open on Wednesday night. The high-quality, energy-sapping showdown lasted two hours and 47 minutes.
“It was a dog fight, and I never back down from a fight,” Fils said during his on-court interview. “Even if I lose, it’s okay. I just fought the best that I could.”
But he didn’t lose — although he could not have come any closer to doing so. Fils trailed 6-2 in the third-set tiebreaker only to save four match points in a row and ultimately win the final six points. The 21-year-old Frenchman also saved all six of the break points he faced throughout the contest and has not been broken this entire tournament.
Paul battled, too. The 23rd-ranked American did not give Fils a single break-point opportunity all night long until suddenly staring down a match point at 5-6 in the decider. Paul, who previously led 40-0 in that service game, fought it off by forcing Fils into a forehand error.
In the end, though, it was Fils who came up with the goods from the brink of defeat.
“That’s the best result I’ve had in my life so far,” Fils assured. “I will try to do my best in the semis, but now I’m pretty happy.”
The world No. 31 had previously been 0-4 lifetime in the quarterfinals of Masters 1000 events. That record included a loss to Alexander Zverev in the Indian Wells quarters two weeks ago. Fils will have a day off before going up against Jiri Lehecka in the semis on Friday. Lehecka advanced earlier with a 7-6(1), 7-5 victory over qualifier Martin Landaluce.