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At 20 years old, Arthur Fils is already writing one of the most solid seasons in recent French tennis. This Monday, August 11, the French number one plays his fourth quarterfinal in Masters 1000 events this year, on the center court in Montreal. Facing him, a face that is starting to become familiar: Spain's Rafael Jodar, 19, who defeated the Frenchman two weeks ago in Washington.
The meeting promises to be explosive. In April, Fils had overturned Jodar in the final in Barcelona after a three-set battle (3-6, 6-3, 6-2). The Spaniard took his revenge in the American capital, taking advantage of a Fils hampered by a hip issue. This third duel in four months outlines one of the most promising rivalries of the new wave on the circuit.
In April, Fils had overturned Jodar in the final in Barcelona after a three-set battle (3-6, 6-3, 6-2).
A Frenchman on the rise
Seeded 18th, Fils has navigated the Montreal draw with authority. He dismissed American Zachary Svajda and then Argentine Mariano Navone without conceding a single break point, before dominating British Cameron Norrie in the round of 16. A performance where the Frenchman imposed a high pace from the first exchanges, breaking at the right moment and locking down his serve in the end of sets.
This season, the player coached by Sébastien Grosjean has already reached the semifinals in Miami and Madrid, and clinched the title in Barcelona. His ATP ranking, around 18th in the world, only imperfectly reflects his momentum. On hard courts, his heavy forehand and lateral movement allow him to compete with the very best. He proved it against Norrie by saving six break points in the second set without ever losing his serve.
Jodar, the rising prodigy
At 19, Rafael Jodar is no longer a surprise. The Madrid native, trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy, has climbed more than forty places in the ATP rankings since January. His tennis relies on a topspin forehand that wears down opponents' defenses and a two-handed backhand he can attack flat, especially down the line.
His victory in Washington over Fils was no accident. That day, Jodar won 73% of points behind his first serve and converted three of his four break points. He arrives in Montreal with the confidence of a player who no longer doubts his place among the top twenty-five in the world in the long run. His room for improvement on hard courts is still considerable.
Tactical keys of the quarterfinal
The duel will pit two philosophies against each other. Fils will look to dictate from the baseline with his forehand and come to the net to break the rhythm. Jodar, for his part, will want to lengthen rallies and force errors through height variation, especially on the Frenchman's backhand.
The first serve will be decisive. In Washington, Fils only landed 56% of them, forced to defend on second serves against an aggressive returner in Jodar. If he raises that percentage, the scenario could reverse. The wide serve on the ad side, followed by a crosscourt forehand, remains his preferred pattern on fast surfaces. On break points, his ability to find powerful first serves has made the difference in Montreal so far.
The winner will meet in the semifinal either American Taylor Fritz, the 4th seed, or Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic. Fritz will start as favorite, but Kecmanovic, a solid returner, could spring a surprise. A place in the last four of a Masters 1000, two weeks before the US Open, would weigh heavily in the balance for both young players.