French Next Gen rising star Arthur Fils battled past Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4) to become the youngest finalist at the European Open in Antwerp.
Fils recorded his second top 10 win after beating Casper Ruud on red clay in Hamburg.
Fils faced a break point in the first game, but he saved with a volley forehand winner. Tsitsipas held two of his first three service games at love.
Tsitsipas saved a set point to hold serve at deuce in the 10th game. Fils fended off two break points in the longest service game of the set to hold serve for 6-5. Tsitsipas held his service game at love to force the first set to the tie-break. Fils went up a mini-break twice, but Tsitsipas pulled back on serve both times. Fils hit an ace for 5-4. Fils fired a crosscourt forehand and hit a forehand volley winner to earn two set points at 6-4. Tsitsipas hit a forehand volley to save a second set point. Fils sealed the 57-minute first set with a forehand winner down the line.
Fils earned an early break in the first game of the second set when Tsitsipas sailed a forehand. Fils held at love to open up a 4-2 lead. Fils fended off three break points as he was serving for the final at 5-4. Tsitsipas converted his fourth break point to draw level to 5-5. The Frenchman held serve at love in the 12th game to force a tie-break. Fils hit his ninth ace to open up a 2-0 lead in the tie-break and extended his lead to 5-1 with a second mini-break. Tsitsipas reeled off three consecutive points to close the gap to 4-5. Fils forced a netted backhand pass to earn two match points. Fils hit a low forehand volley winner on match point to seal the win after 2 hours.
Fils is one win away from his second title of the season and from breaking into the top 35 of the ATP Ranking for the first time in his career after starting the season outside the world number 250.
Fils fired 30 winners and saved eight of nine break points.
Alexander Bublik fired 12 aces and won 35 of 38 first serve points in his 6-4 6-4 win over German qualifier Maximilian Marterer in 1 hour and 24 minutes. Bublik fended off all five break points he faced
