Arthur Fils is the second Frenchman within the Open Period to succeed in the Cincinnati remaining.
Richard PagliaroAugust 22, 20262 minute learn
By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 22, 2026
Photograph credit score: Cincinnati Open Fb
The blue courtroom resembled a launching pad.
Arthur Fils was in full flight.
Rocketing fiery forehands into the corners, Fils swept Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 6-4 to cost into his maiden ATP Masters 1000 remaining on the Cincinnati Open.
The 22-year-old Fils joins Man Neglect (1991) because the second Frenchman in Open Period historical past to succeed in the Cincinnati remaining. The victory vaults the gifted Fils to No. 11 within the ATP Reside Rankings.
Barcelona champion Fils performed spectacular tennis in a 67-minute sweep. Fils improved to 31-10 on the season cruising into his third remaining of 2026.
It’s the seventh, and largest, remaining of Fils’ profession.
We are going to see a maiden ATP Masters 1000 topped in Cincinnati tomorrow.
The Twenty first-seeded Fils will face both 2024 Cincinnati finalist Frances Tiafoe or Montreal finalist Brandon Nakashima in tomorrow’s remaining.
French Open finalist Cobolli scored first-break blood for a 2-1 lead, however Fils amped up his aggression.
Stepping to his left, Fils repeatedly lasered excessive, heavy topspin forehands that dive-bombed into the Davis Cup hero’s backhand nook.
Play was suspended about 40 minutes because of lightning strikes within the space.
Halfway via the set, Fils unleashed his power of nature forehand to nice impact.
Twenty-five minutes into the match, Fils spun a shocking working forehand strike down the road. Fils adopted with a forehand volley holding at 15 for 4-3.
Clubbing his forehand to the Italian’s backhand, Fils constantly made Cobolli play his two-hander throughout a crackling 29-shot rally. It ended with Cobolli netting a backhand, providing a sarcastic thumbs-up to father and coach, Stefano, and dealing with double break level.
Cobolli challenged the Frenchman’s forehand and paid a stinging value as Fils curled a crosscourt forehand breaking for 5-3.
A flowing Fils flashed a forehand behind Cobolli to serve out the 35-minute first set at 15.
The pissed off French Open finalist didn’t regulate to the Fils assault. Fils rattled out errors breaking at 15 to begin the second set.
Fils slammed his third ace holding for 3-1.
Serving for the ultimate, Fils went full explosive mode. First, Fils snapped a smash, then he bashed a blur of a forehand and adopted it with a curling crosscourt forehand for double match level.
When Cobolli sailed one remaining return, the entertaining Fils, who owns one of many greatest topspin forehands within the recreation, was via to his greatest remaining.
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