Fils extends ATP 500s win streak, Shelton sinks Rublev in Basel

Arthur Fils was in no mood to let slip his red-hot run at ATP 500 events on Friday at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

The #NextGenATP star produced a steely performance to defeat third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5), 6-3 and advance to the last four in Basel. Fils has now won 13 consecutive matches at this level, underpinned by title runs in Hamburg and Tokyo this year. With the triumph, the 20-year-old improved to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. 

“I think I served pretty well,” said Fils, who won 88 per cent (29/33) of points behind his first delivery and did not face a break point, according to Infosys ATP Stats. “I was very focused. I missed a crazy set point, but I am very happy with how I dealt with the tie-break and I think I played pretty good in the second set as well.

“I found a way to refocus [after missing the first two set points], and I think I did that pretty well, so I am happy.”

HE'S A BIIIIIG PROBLEM ?@ArthurFils1 punches his ticket into his 9th ATP Tour semi-final! #SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/JvmW6Zaole

Fils, who improved to 8-1 vs. Top 20 players since July, is yet to drop a set this week in Vienna. The Frenchman applied pressure throughout the first set against Tsitsipas, but was unable to convert any of his four set points. However, Fils came alive in a high-quality tie-break before accelerating to an 83-minute victory.

The defeat was a dent to Tsitsipas’ hopes of qualifying for a sixth consecutive appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, having won the tournament on his debut in 2019. The 26-year-old remains 12th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, 745 points adrift of eighth-placed Andrey Rublev, who takes on Ben Shelton in the second quarter-final in Basel.

Fils remains in pole position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, 1,235 points ahead of second-placed Alex Michelsen.

Awaiting Fils in the semi-finals in Basel is his doubles partner for the week, Ben Shelton.

The American held his nerve to outlast top seed Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4 and advance to his seventh tour-level semi-final.

Shelton was imperious on serve throughout the contest, during which he slammed 13 aces and saved all six of the break points he faced. The 22-year-old also converted each of the two break points he carved out, which proved to be decisive.

“I knew this was a big one for me, I struggled a lot this year in quarter-finals, and I’ve lost a lot of them against Top 10 players,” said Shelton. “It’s been a tough hump to overcome, but to get to the second to last week of the year and finally do it is huge for me. Especially with the way I was able to overcome everything Rublev threw at me today.

“He [Fils] is one of my best friends on the Tour, and I see him as one of my main rivals out of the young guys. He’s playing incredible tennis at the moment, and there is no one I would rather match up against on a Saturday here in Basel. I’m looking for some revenge.”

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