Arthur Fils wins 2024 Japan Open

Arthur Fils (Google Images)

Arthur Fils of Courcouronnes, France has won his third ATP tournament, and second tennis title of 2024 at the 500 level. After beating former Olympic gold medalist and two-time grand slam finalist Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in the final of the 2024 Hamburg Open in July, Fils defeated Ugo Humbert of Metz, France, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 in an all-French final on Tuesday.

In the final in Tokyo, Fils won a key second set tie-break by a score of 8-6. He won the set with a dramatic backhand winner down the line. A key statistic in the match was receiving points won. Fils won 50 points, compared to 29 for Humbert.

This was the first time in four meetings Fils has beaten Humbert. In the past, Humbert won 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the first round of Cincinnati in 2023, 6-3, 7-6 in the second round of s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands in 2024, and 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the 2024 National Bank Open in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Prior to facing Humbert, Fils beat four formidable opponents in Tokyo. Fils, who was unseeded, beat the first seed and 2024 United States Open finalist Taylor Fritz of the United States 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Fils then beat Matteo Berettini of Italy, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, in the second round, as Berrettini withdrew trailing 7-6, because of an abdominal injury. In the quarterfinals, Fils beat 2023 United States Open semifinalist and eighth seed Ben Shelton of the United States, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6. Then in the semifinals, Fils beat the sixth seed Holger Ruud of Denmark, 7-6, 7-6. In the first set tiebreak, Fils won 10-8, and in the second set tiebreak, Fils won 12-10.

In an interesting statistic, Fils beat the last two Japan Open champions in Tokyo this past week. Fritz won the Japan Open in 2022 and Shelton won the Japan Open in 2023.

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