Sons, after falling to Alcaraz: "Right now, it's another level, and I’m not there"
The Frenchman acknowledged Alcaraz's superiority in the final but was pleased with the tournament, reaching his first final after his long back injury.
The final of the ATP 500 in Doha revealed a clear contrast between the competitive prowess of Carlos Alcaraz and the still-developing learning curve of Arthur Fils. The Frenchman was clearly defeated (6-2, 6-1 in less than an hour), unable to find solutions against the pace, precision, and intensity of the world number one.
Nevertheless, the defeat does not overshadow the great week for the Frenchman. He reached his first final after eight months away due to a back fracture, defeating high-level opponents and regaining competitive sensations. The player himself chose to focus on this positive aspect. Returning to contend for a title after such a long break is already, for him, a victory in itself.
Arthur Fils focuses on the positive
Fils himself aimed to emphasize the positive aspects of his tournament. After eight months off, reaching a final represents a silent victory for him: "The goal is to stay positive. A final after eight months off feels good. Today was a bit more complicated, much more complicated, but these things happen, and we must move forward."
The Frenchman candidly acknowledged that the match was influenced by Alcaraz's level, while also admitting he did not showcase his best form: "I played worse than I had been playing this week. But he is the number one, he hasn't lost a match since the start of the year, you can see why. Right now, he is on another level, and I am not there yet, not at all there." Far from making excuses, he emphasized the need to improve: "I will have to work, but right now, I am not at that level. He plays very, very well, and I have nothing to say."
An Exciting Future
The Frenchman has a very promising future ahead. At just 21 years old, he already has 3 ATP titles and has been on the brink of the top 10, holding the 14th position in the rankings. The match also helped him pinpoint precisely what sets him apart from the current tennis elite like Alcaraz and Sinner. Ball speed and constant pressure were decisive factors: "It goes very fast, from the beginning putting a lot of pressure, playing well, it was quite challenging. We will have to watch the match and analyze how it unfolded," commented the Frenchman.
After the defeat, his immediate schedule is yet to be decided. The Frenchman does not rule out competing next week at the ATP 500 in Dubai, where he is registered, although he will assess it with his team: "I don't know, I will see with the team. I am in the draw and play against Lehecka, still not sure when. It's a good opening match (laughs). We'll see what happens, but for now, it looks like I am going."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fils, tras caer ante Alcaraz: “Ahora mismo es otro nivel y no estoy ahí”