Son: "My level of tennis and confidence are rising with every match"

Diego Jiménez Rubio - 9 Aug 2026 | 08:53
Arthur Fils Rafael Jódar ATP Rueda de prensa ATP Montreal 2026

The Frenchman spoke after surviving a great battle against Norrie in Montreal, meeting Rafa Jódar in the quarterfinals.

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Arthur Fils, confidence in Montreal before the match against Jódar. Photo: gettyimages

Arthur Fils seems fully recovered from the physical issues that interrupted his upward trend this season and is looking for a breakthrough result at the ATP Masters 1000 Montreal 2026. After reaching the quarter-finals, where he will face Rafael Jódar, he expressed his positive feelings.

It is startling, surprising, and exciting to think that Arthur Fils is just 22 years old. Few players like the Frenchman possess such a high, demonstrable potential with results and sporadic performances. Only injuries have prevented his candidacy for major successes and his placement among the best in the world, but every time he can compete free of discomfort, he showcases his level. He reflected on this in comments reported by TennisTV after defeating Cameron Norrie, noting his quarter-final matchup with Rafael Jódar.

Fils warns of the great confidence with which he will face his duel against Jódar in Montreal

“It was a great battle. Those last 30 minutes of the match, with the tiebreak, were incredible, worthy of a Saturday night,” he said with laughter after winning 10-8 in the tiebreak of the second set against the combative Brit. “I played very well in the first set, but in the second, he raised his level and made changes in rhythm that I found hard to interpret, and I didn't take advantage of the opportunities I had. Luckily, I was able to close it out in two sets, which is very important for me,” the Frenchman assured.

 

The match ended just before midnight, and on Monday, Fils will face another highly demanding clash against his conqueror a few days ago in Washington: Rafael Jódar. He will do so brimming with confidence and aware that his feelings are much better now, so this match could become a turning point for him.

Qualified for the quarter-finals in 4 of the 5 Masters 1000 he has played this year (absent in Monte Carlo and defeated in the second round of Rome), the Frenchman pointed out the key to his success. “It had been a while since I had chained several matches together competing at my best, without discomfort, and that boosts my confidence, as well as my tennis level. I feel that my backhand is working again and I'm improving every day. I’m very happy,” he affirmed.

He will have the tough challenge of stopping a Rafa Jódar on fire, becoming one of the fittest players at the moment. Arthur Fils knows what it is like to defeat the Madrilenian, having done so in Barcelona a few months ago, and he will surely have taken note of what happened in Washington less than two weeks ago. What is clear is that it will be an exciting duel for a place in the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 Montreal 2026.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fils: "Mi nivel de tenis y confianza van subiendo en cada partido"