Fired-up Fils clinches maiden home triumph

The leading French light dazzled on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, eventually dispatching the former world No.16 Nicolas Jarry across three hours and 23 minutes of absorbing action.

Following two first-round defeats on two previous main draw visits to Porte d’Auteuil, Fils made sure he hit the ground running on Monday.

Story of the match

The No.14 seed was playing like a man who reached the Barcelona semi-finals and Monte-Carlo Masters quarter-finals this clay stint, seemingly one step ahead of Jarry in the rallies to charge ahead by a set and a break.

Jarry ramped up the heat at 4-5 in the second set with hammer forehands that earned him two break points. The home youngster wasn’t going to waiver, however, launching a kick-serve up at Jarry’s shoulders and then crunching a wrong-footing forehand.

Moments later Fils was pumping his fist towards his team two sets to the good.

Jarry, who reached the Roland-Garros fourth round in 2023, switched his approach and began to canvass the net frequently, making sure Fils became embroiled in plenty of reaction duels. A tiebreak was required and the Chilean rebounded from 2-5 to extend the clash.

Since his RG 2024 first round exit last May, Fils has evolved into a top-tier contender, picking up plenty of status-building victories and he demonstrated that development in the fourth set. Two consecutive backhand passes launched the home hope 2-0 ahead and then an extraordinary stop volley oozed swagger for a 4-1 advantage.

Fils didn’t look back and can now prepare for a second round clash with Spain's Jaume Munar.

Key stats

The French No.1 has now completed his set of match wins at every Grand Slam, having posted three victories at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, as well as two over at the US Open. Could he surpass those totals this fortnight having opened his winning count on home terre battue?

The 20-year-old is the fifth-youngest Frenchman to register a singles win at all four majors in the Open era and the youngest since Richard Gasquet in 2007.

Fils has now recorded 20 tour-level victories for the third consecutive campaign. He conjured up 23 wins in 2023, 38 in 2024, so he’s certainly on course to top those tallies this season.

What Fils thinks

About getting the win: "I had never won a match at Roland-Garros before. It was a good match. I was up two sets to love with quite a lot of break points. And then things turned the other way round and I lost the third set. I thought, 'It kind of sucks.' Thanks to you guys [the crowd], I managed to get the better of him in the fourth."

Changing his mindset in the fourth set: "I had so many break opportunities in the third set [0/6] that I was pretty sure that I would get my chance in the fourth.

"It was just a matter of making this break point. It wasn’t easy but I had to put a lot of energy and not let him play his tennis, otherwise it would be impossible. I’m happy I have done it."

On the rest of the tournament: "Physically I ended the match in a better shape than at the beginning. I felt better and better. I had a little dip in the third set but I feel good. I have time to recover and practice, make some adjustments and correct things that didn’t work."