Brave Fils wins 'dogfight' vs. Zverev, claims biggest title in Hamburg

Playing in the biggest match of his young career, Arthur Fils came through a dramatic final set to defeat home favourite Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(1) in Sunday's Hamburg Open final.

In a three-and-a-half-hour marathon, the #NextGenATP Frenchman saved an incredible 21 of 22 break points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, including five in the final set. Fils stayed aggressive in the face of unrelenting pressure from the top seed and defending champion, fighting through deuce as he saved break points at 4-4 and 5-5 in the third set before dominating the decisive tie-break.

"I knew from the start it was not going to be easy," Fils said before the trophy ceremony. "First set I was taking care of it, I think I had a little but of luck, but playing great. Then second set he managed to play better than me and to raise his level.

"Then we closed the roof and when we closed the roof I knew it was going to be just a fight, like a dogfight. You just have to fight until the last point, until the last ball. I think that I'm practising since a long time for this kind of moment so I'm really happy to win it."

Winning Fils again for Arthur 🏆🏆

The French prodigy has secured his second ATP Tour title in Hamburg 💫@hamburgopenatp | #HamburgOpen pic.twitter.com/OUR5klmGs9

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 21, 2024

Overcoming cramps late in the match, Fils emerged with the biggest title of his career. His first ATP 500 crown came courtesy of his joint-biggest win by PIF ATP Ranking: He is now 4-6 against Top 10 opponents after beating World No. 4 Zverev.

By earning his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win against Zverev (1-2), Fils avenged defeats to the German last year in Hamburg and this season in Halle. Zverev was bidding to become the fifth player to successfully defend the Hamburg title and the fourth player to retain a tour-level title in 2024.

Already comfortably in first place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, Fils will on Monday debut inside the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings behind his second tour-level title (Lyon 2023).

Did You Know?
Fils is just the third Hamburg champion under the age of 21 this century, joining Roger Federer (20, 2002) and Lorenzo Musetti (20, 2022). Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet all finished runner-up in Hamburg before turning 21.