Son of Sinner, on Sinner: "I have played against great tennis players, but his talent is different"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 1 May 2026 | 19.10

Arthur Fils speaks after being eliminated in Madrid. Photo: gettyimages

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Arthur Fils can be proud of how his season is going, but a natural competitor like him couldn't hide his regret and frustration in the press conference after losing convincingly to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open 2026. His words about the Italian and his outlook on upcoming tournaments were highlights of his intervention.

Stringing together victories and having good feelings allows for the imagination to return and be considered a real alternative to the established power. Arthur Fils has shown that in recent weeks and rightly so. There are plenty of reasons to believe that the Frenchman can contend for important titles and challenge a player like Jannik Sinner, but that moment has not arrived yet. This was made clear by the world number 1, unwavering facing the challenge of meeting an opponent who had remained undefeated on clay coming into this event.

Arthur Fils' Words After Losing to Sinner in the Madrid Open 2026

The Impact of Facing the Number One

"My serving numbers were pretty bad. But well, jokes aside, he is a great champion. I don't think he has lost a match since Indian Wells. He is playing amazingly, with a lot of confidence. He hits the ball very cleanly from both sides and is also serving very well. The first set was very good for him and quite tough for me. I had to adapt to the speed of his ball; it's different when you play a full match against him. I have faced great rivals, but this is different. When I step onto the court against him, I feel like I am playing great tennis, but it's not enough."

Rhythm, Solutions, and Lessons from the Match

"It is true that I leave the match with many answers to my questions. Aside from the serve, from the baseline in the first set, he was above me. It was a pace I wasn't accustomed to on this clay court tour. Then in the second set, I managed to find solutions, vary a bit more, and be more solid with my backhand. That was better. But he is a champion, with many consecutive wins, so it's not easy. It's another experience. When we face each other again, hopefully in semifinals, final, or quarterfinals of a major tournament, I hope to have learned from this defeat and be able to play a better match."

The Necessary Leap to Compete with the Best

"Yes, of course, that's where the season goes. I need to play more matches at this level, against the top two, three, four, or five players in the world to get accustomed. So far, I have played good matches against good opponents, but they are not the best yet. Once I get used to it, then we can talk about really big matches. For now, all of this is new experiences. It's part of the journey."

Ambition, Work, and Long-Term Mentality

"What I want is to be able to compete against these players, to get to these matches with real chances. That will require a lot, a lot of training. I am now going to Rome, I will train, then I will have the week before Roland Garros, and we will continue working non-stop throughout the season. I have many years ahead, so that's very positive. Right now, I am going to disconnect for a bit, and then we'll come back."

The Serving Issue and On-Court Reaction

"I don't know. I was trying to figure it out on the court. I was thinking: okay, in the first set, you're not hitting first serves, try to change, try to use more kick. And I did it quite well. Then we arrived at 4-4 and... my mind went blank. I tried to hit an ace again and told myself: Arthur, are you stupid or what? Change something. But I had a hard time reacting and adapting. In the upcoming matches, I hope that doesn't happen, and if it does, I have to react much faster."

The Constant Pressure against the Elite

"It definitely creates more pressure when the opponent steps inside the court, especially him. But my second serve didn't bother me as much; that was pretty good. The issue was with the first serve. I was trying too hard, looking for easy points. Against the best in the world, there are no easy points. I thought I could serve as in previous rounds, hit some aces, and dominate with my serve and forehand, but it didn't work out today."

Working with Goran Ivanisevic and Recent Evolution

"If we're working on the serve, today was not a good day. But we are doing a great job. Goran is helping me a lot with his experience. I had already been doing incredible work with Ivan for two years, and they are also great friends, so it's easy to work with both of them. Since Goran arrived, I have a different perspective on things. In Barcelona and Madrid, we have done very good work, and I am very happy. I hope we continue like this."

Honesty in Acknowledging a Great Virtue of Himself

"That's a great question. I learn fast. In Miami, I said I was wasting too much energy on the court, and then I arrived in Barcelona and Madrid completely different. I learn quickly; that is one of my great virtues."

The final feeling is clear: Arthur Fils has taken a step forward but has also realized firsthand the distance that still separates him from the top. His discourse, without excuses and with a very clear view of the process, points to a player who not only competes but also understands perfectly what he needs to go further. Madrid has not been a final point but a very precise reference to where he wants to go.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fils, sobre Sinner: "He jugado contra grandes tenistas, pero lo suyo es distinto"