Stan Wawrinka and Arthur Fils are set to contest a mouth-watering first-round match at the French Open.
Wawrinka, the 2015 champion in Paris, is contesting his final Roland Garros campaign ahead of his retirement at the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Fils has recently emerged as one of the brightest young talents on the ATP Tour after performing superbly at a number of significant ATP events – including the Barcelona Open, where he won the title.
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Wawrinka and Fils, separated in age by 20 years, have played each other once previously on the Tour.
Arthur Fils defeated Stan Wawrinka in their first-ever match
Arthur Fils began the 2023 Marseille Open by defeating Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-3.
Fils then received a boost in the form of Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal, sending the Frenchman through to the quarter-finals.
There, he would play Stan Wawrinka, the three-time Grand Slam champion.
The 18-year-old emerged victorious from his clash with the Swiss maestro, winning 6-2, 6-3 in the French city.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Fils after the contest, as per the ATP Tour.
“I was watching him [Wawrinka] play during all my young career. I was hitting in Bercy with him as a sparring partner, and now I beat him.
“It’s a long way, a long way for my coach and my family, but it’s not over yet and I want to enjoy more.”
“[My progress is] fast, but I can be faster, so I will try to be,” Fils added. “I will try to enjoy every moment on the court, as I did today, and I’m very happy with the crowd and everything.”
Fils went on to lose in the semi-finals to compatriot Benjamin Bonzi, 4-6, 4-6.
Top seed Hubert Hurkacz won the title, beating Bonzi 6-3, 7-6 in the final.
Stan Wawrinka found Arthur Fils to be ‘very strong’
As mentioned by Fils, the Frenchman and Wawrinka had practised together in Bercy prior to their contest in Marseille.
After defeating Richard Gasquet at the Marseille Open [prior to his match with Fils], Wawrinka discussed what he thought of the youngster’s game.
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“Very strong,” Wawrinka said of Fils, as per French outlet L’Equipe.
“I told my coach that I found him very strong. He played very well, it was solid, he had a “good head”, physically he is good.
I also saw him play in Montpellier because I am a tennis fan and I like to watch what is happening. He has something to do, he has great potential. “
