Arthur Fils lets victory slip away in European Open after agonising loss to Struff: “It's hard to see the positives”

Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 02:30

Arthur fils celebrates a victory at Madrid Open.

Arthur Fils saw his ~~European Open Brussels~~ campaign come to an agonising end on Friday, falling to Jan-Lennard Struff in a dramatic semifinal that went down to a deciding-set tie-break. The world No. 10 appeared on course to reach another ATP final this season, but ultimately let the opportunity slip away after coming within touching distance of victory.

Struff prevailed 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(5) after a contest in which neither player managed to establish lasting control. Fils recovered from losing the opening set to force a decider, then appeared to have the upper hand as the match approached its conclusion. However, the German held firm when it mattered most to secure his place in the final.

The decisive moments came in the tie-break, with the score level at 5-5 and Fils serving. The Frenchman had the chance to move within a point of victory, but a mishit during the exchange handed Struff the opening he needed. Fils then committed a costly unforced error in the rally following Struff's second serve, allowing the 36-year-old to close out the match on his own serve.

For Fils, the defeat was particularly difficult to process given how close he had come to completing the comeback. The Frenchman had created opportunities to finish the contest, but could not convert them into the result he wanted. Struff, meanwhile, produced the kind of composed performance required to survive a high-pressure finish and reach another ATP Tour final.

Fils struggles to explain missed opportunity after defeat

Fils was candid in his assessment immediately after the match, admitting that the result was difficult to accept. “It's hard to see the positives after a defeat like that, a match like that,” he said. “I think I created chances for myself. I tried to take them. Today, things didn't go my way.”

The Frenchman acknowledged that Struff had been the better player in the opening set, while the second was decided by fine margins. He felt he had gained the upper hand in the decider but was unable to finish the job.

“At 5-4, I found myself at 0-40 pretty quickly,” Fils explained. “He hit a good return on second serve, I didn't make a first serve. At 0-30, I missed an easy attacking forehand.” Those missed opportunities proved costly, as Struff broke back before eventually taking control of the deciding tie-break.

The loss also interrupted Fils' progress in the battle to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin. After moving ahead of Frances Tiafoe into seventh place in the Race, the Frenchman missed the chance to strengthen his position with a deep run in Brussels.

“I'm mainly wondering how I managed to lose that match. I'm not really thinking about the ATP Finals,” Fils said. “It's not a big deal. In any case, it's going to be a very tough end to the year, so we all know that. It's not the main objective.”

Instead, Fils wants to focus on finding ways to close out matches more efficiently as the season approaches its conclusion. He also admitted that he had considered whether different tactical choices might have helped him get over the line, including varying his serve or coming forward more often.

“It's tough, honestly, right now, in the heat of the moment, I find it hard to see how I could have done better,” he said. “Maybe I should have mixed up my serve, maybe not gone for the ace, gone at the body a bit. Maybe I could have come to the net more.”

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Despite the disappointment, Fils gave credit to Struff for the quality of his performance indoors. The German's serve and willingness to attack made him a difficult opponent throughout the contest, particularly in the closing stages.

“I think he served very well throughout the match. And then he went forward. He played the indoor game well, he took his chances and in the end he didn't miss much,” Fils said. “He's still a very, very, very good indoor hard-court player.”

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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