Arthur Fils Turns Madrid Match Around After Fitness Coach Tells Him to “Shut the F*ck Up!” Arthur Fils endured a difficult start to his campaign at the Madrid Open, dropping the opening set in a tense first-round encounter against Ignacio Buse. The Frenchman was pushed to a tie-break before conceding it 7-6(4), but recovered to claim a hard-fought 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 victory, overcoming early frustration in a match that demanded sustained control across three sets. Fils has been in great form during the opening part of the season, highlighted by his title win at the Barcelona Open. That win helped push him back near the ATP top 20, and there’s growing belief he has the qualities to one day push Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The Frenchman faces Ignacio Buse in his opening match at the Madrid Open as he goes after his first-ever win at the event. He hasn’t had much luck in Madrid yet, but Fils believes he can put together a strong run this time around. Since returning in February, Fils has made it to at least the semi-finals in three different tournaments and he feels confident about doing well again in Madrid. “I’ve never won a match here, but I think this year I’m going to win a few,” Fils said at the tournament. “I’m going to do my best to try and travel far in the tournament. I play very well on clay. On this fast clay, my serve and forehand should work well.” “It’s a question of training, small adjustments, and mental strength. I’m going to try to step onto the court with the right mindset.” This year’s draw hasn’t been simple for Fils either, as he has been drawn into the same section as Ben Shelton and Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Lorenzo Musetti is also a possible quarter-final opponent, with Tallon Griekspoor standing between him and that matchup. Fils has featured in the Madrid Open three times, but he’s still chasing his first main draw win at the Masters event. The star has been knocked out of the second round in the last two years, after receiving a first round bye due to his seeding. Despite his poor record at the tournament, Fils is confident he can have a deep run at the clay court event. Speaking at the Madrid Open, the Frenchman said: “I’ve never won a match here, but I think this year I’m going to win a few.” More Tennis News: Fils has been drawn in the same section of the draw as Ben Shelton and Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Madrid Open. The Frenchman’s most likely quarter-final opponent is Lorenzo Musetti, who plays Tallon Griekspoor in the third round.
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