Arthur Fils gives honest answer to question about Jannik Sinner gap

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Arthur Fils has made a strong comeback this year, reminding everyone why he’s seen as one of tennis’s most promising young players.

Still, like most of the ATP Tour, he struggled to match up against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, losing clearly to both in Qatar and Madrid.

He took those losses in good spirits though, even joking about the difference in level between himself and the two top players.

But beneath that light-hearted approach is a serious competitor who won’t be happy staying where he is for long.

Arthur Fils addresses if he truly believes he can be world number one

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Speaking to the media, he opened up about his comfort on clay, where he’s lost just once this season.

“It could have been two losses and no wins,” he started, pointing out tight early-round matches against Ignacio Buse and Terence Atmane. “It could have gone the wrong way, but I’m very happy, very happy with the results I had in the past two weeks.

“I mean, played some great tennis in Barcelona, and I’m enjoying myself on the clay, and I really like it.”

The conversation then turned to his semi-final against Sinner at the Madrid Open. When a reporter described it as ‘toe-to-toe’, Fils grinned: “Toe-to-toe? That’s not toe-to-toe. In that first set, was more massacre [laughs].”

He went on: “I mean, he’s a great champion; he didn’t lose one match since Indian Wells, so it’s a lot of wins. A lot of wins in a row.

“It was funny because when we stepped on the court, we both hadn’t lost one game on clay, and I was like okay maybe I’m gonna make him lose… Didn’t happen [laughs].