Son, emotional after his latest victory: "I missed him"

Arthur Fils felt like a tennis player at home again, something that professional athletes usually long for throughout the calendar. After a year and a half without playing a match in front of his audience, the Frenchman enjoyed a very special day at the Rolex Paris Masters, achieving a victory that allowed him to reconnect with his fans in a very special setting.

After defeating Thomas Machac in straight sets, the French player did not hide his emotion during the on-court interview, where he constantly thanked the support received from the stands. "It had been a year and a half since I last played at home; I really missed it," Fils acknowledged, still filled with the adrenaline of victory. His entrance onto the court was also different; in fact, he confessed that he made an unusual decision: "This is the first time all year that I came in without my headphones, just to feel the atmosphere. I felt alive, honestly; it’s true happiness that I feel now."

A tough debut and a huge challenge

Beyond the emotions, Fils had to work hard to pull off a challenging match against Machac. The Frenchman admitted that he wasn’t quite sure what to expect from his opponent, who is capable of alternating moments of great inspiration with others where it’s difficult to find answers.

"I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from him. Sometimes he serves spectacularly, and other times he starts hitting winning shots that are practically impossible to defend. I tried to stay in the game, took my opportunity in the tiebreak, and the match ended up going my way," he explained. His performance assessment was also positive, albeit with his usual sense of humor: "The feelings were quite good. It wasn't bad at all; it wasn't a disastrous performance; I'm pretty happy with my level of play."

Now he faces a greater challenge against Taylor Fritz, one of the biggest servers on the circuit. "We know each other well, and I know it won't be easy. It's his favorite surface, but I’m at home, and I have the advantage of the crowd,” he warned.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fils, emocionado tras su última victoria: "Lo echaba de menos"