Huge upset of Fils against a reborn Tsitsipas
The Frenchman arrived as one of the title contenders at the 2026 US Open, but faced a Tsitsipas who caused his elimination in the first round.
Arthur Fils was promising himself a very happy time at the US Open 2026 after becoming champion in Cincinnati, but he was eliminated in the first round by a Stefanos Tsitsipas who played tennis like we haven't seen from him in years. The result was 4-6 7-6 (3) 6-1 6-4 in favor of the Greek.
Fils experienced an absolute hangover from success at the US Open 2026, finding himself faced with a wolf in sheep's clothing who recovered his more ferocious side when it was least expected. Stefanos Tsitsipas marked his return to the elite with a memorable victory that turns the New York Grand Slam upside down, eliminating the champion in Cincinnati and a strong title contender.
Here was Tsitsipas' victory against Fils at the US Open 2026
From the start of the match, something special could be felt around the Greek. Free from the pressure exerted by his father and any external expectations, he showed a great version of himself right from the first set. It seemed that Fils had a bit more consistency from the baseline, confirming this with a break in the tenth game that seemed to leave the Greek's green shoots in vain.
However, the second set was a clear confirmation of Stefanos' improvement. His backhand began to withstand the Frenchman's attacks, he moved laterally with an explosiveness not seen in a long time, and his serve gave him the necessary advantage and confidence to be very aggressive with his forehand.
He displayed a brilliant performance with that shot, worthy of a player who was very close to winning Grand Slams, and maintained mental composure in crucial moments, such as a tiebreak where Fils' weaknesses were exposed. The Frenchman was too anxious, as if he took for granted the obligation to win, overreacting to his difficulties and unable to find tactical solutions to the challenge posed by Stefanos.
Smiles all round 😆
Tsitsipas takes out Cincinnati champ Fils in a HUGE win!@usopen #USOpen pic.twitter.com/6mAS8Ghm2l— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 31, 2026
His moral collapse after losing the tiebreak was catastrophic for his interests. He stood frozen, seemed to be experiencing some discomfort, turned against his bench seeking blame, and looked completely lost against the solidity of a Tsitsipas who reminded us of his best moments. Thus, a third set turned out to be fatal for the Frenchman.
Despite all that, a fierce reaction from Fils was anticipated in a fourth set that ultimately sealed his fate. After recovering a break at the start due to certain doubts from his opponent, he was unable to maintain intensity in his shots from the back of the court.
This was exploited by Stefanos Tsitsipas to unleash his full potential, which seemed lost forever. A brilliant performance from the Greek, who makes a strong statement and breaks the forecasts in this part of the draw of the US Open 2026. Arthur Fils receives a very important dose of humility and, undoubtedly, the debate in France about his viability as a potential Grand Slam champion will reopen.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gran batacazo de Fils ante un Tsitsipas renacido