Arthur Fils survives qualifying and avoids Fritz before facing longtime French rival

Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at 00:30

Arthur Fils holds the Cincinnati Open trophy - his first Masters 1000 title.

Arthur Fils' unexpected journey through qualifying in Tokyo has taken another turn, with the newly crowned World No. 9 avoiding a potential opening-round meeting with Taylor Fritz or Rafael Jodar in the main draw. Instead, Fils will face fellow Frenchman Luca Van Assche after fighting through two qualifying matches to reach the tournament's main stage.

The situation began with an administrative mistake surrounding Fils' entry into the Tokyo Open. The Frenchman needed additional time to decide his Asian swing and ultimately chose to begin in Japan, but by then the entry list had already been finalized. His late application meant that, despite entering the tournament as a newly minted Top-10 player, he was forced into qualifying.

It was an unusual situation for a player of Fils' ranking. When he stepped onto court for his qualifying opener, he became the highest-ranked player in 20 years to compete in a qualifying event. The five-time ATP champion was making his debut inside the Top 10 at the same time as he was being asked to fight through a stage normally reserved for players much further down the rankings.

Fils has now completed that unexpected task, although not without difficulty. The 21-year-old dropped the opening set against Martin Damm Jr before recovering to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. He then needed another three-set battle against Kamil Majchrzak, eventually prevailing 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to secure his place in the main draw.

Fils completes unexpected route into Tokyo main draw

The qualifying campaign gives Fils two additional matches under his belt before the main draw begins, but it also means the Frenchman arrives at the tournament having already played considerably more tennis than originally expected. His recovery from the opening-set loss to Damm was particularly important, as he responded by dropping just two games across the final two sets.

Against Majchrzak, Fils again had to recover after surrendering the second set. The No. 9 seed in the world eventually established his level in the decider, breaking away from the Pole to complete the victory and earn one of the four qualifying spots in the main draw.

Arthur Fils holding the Barcelona Open trophy

The reward is a first-round meeting with Van Assche, currently ranked No. 35. Rather than facing one of the more established names initially projected among the qualifiers, Fils will meet a player he has known since childhood, creating an all-French contest between two players who have shared part of their development.

The draw could have produced a much more difficult first-round assignment. The four qualifying positions offered the possibility of Fils facing Fritz, Jodar, Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Van Assche, but the final draw placed the 21-year-old against his compatriot.

A familiar rival before another major test

Van Assche presents a difficult first test despite their familiarity. Fils enters the match as the higher-ranked player and with two qualifying victories already behind him, but his opponent is himself firmly established inside the Top 40 and will be looking to exploit any fatigue from Fils' unexpected route into the tournament.

If Fils advances, however, the draw becomes significantly more demanding. He would face either Japanese wildcard Kei Nishikori or Frances Tiafoe in the second round. Nishikori is playing his final professional tournament before retirement, while Tiafoe arrives after reaching the US Open semifinals.

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A meeting with Tiafoe would also carry recent history. Fils defeated the American in the Cincinnati final last month to win the first Masters 1000 title of his career, a breakthrough that helped propel him towards his Top-10 debut. Their potential Tokyo rematch would therefore give Fils an immediate opportunity to test himself against the player he beat for the biggest title of his career.

For now, though, Fils has already turned an administrative setback into another opportunity. He arrived in Tokyo as the highest-ranked qualifying player in two decades, survived two three-set matches and now begins his first tournament as a Top-10 player with a familiar opponent standing between him and the second round.

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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