Arthur Fils downplays Rome dispute with Stefanos Tsitsipas in Rome

ROME, Italy—The match was over but the battle looked like it was only beginning between Arthur Fils and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who were separated by umpire Gregory Allensworth after Fils clinched a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 comeback at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The dispute ultimately stemmed from a misunderstanding when Fils was tagged at the net by a Tsitsipas passing shot; Fils didn’t see the apology given by the former world No. 3.

“All good,” insisted Fils, who scored his sixth Top 20 win of the 2025 season. “We’re just talking about the match. No worries.”

The field may have to start worrying about Fils as the No. 13 seed surged into a career-best result at the Foro Italico. With three Masters quarterfinals already under his belt this season, the 20-year-old has navigated tough opposition to continue his climb up the rankings.

“Everyone is playing great now on the tour. Of course, Stef is a huge champion; he made the finals of a Slam and everything. When you get to the third round here, you always play a seed, so you know it’s going to be a tough match. I played Musetti in Indian Wells, Frances in Miami, Rublev in Monte Carlo. So, it’s never an easy match but it’s good for me to win them. It helps with my confidence, and it showed me that I’m working great.”

Talking more broadly about Sunday’s match, FIls described a strong win that helped him improve to 4-0 against Tsitsipas, a 2022 finalist in Rome.

“It was tough,” said Fils. “He’s a great, great, great player, especially on clay. During the first set, he killed me. I had to find a way. I managed to break at 4-4 with a great game, a bit lucky as well. But I’m very happy with how I finished the match. It was a tough battle, and I finished strong.”

When you get to the third round here...you know it’s going to be a tough match. I played Musetti in Indian Wells, Frances in Miami, Rublev in Monte Carlo. So, it’s never an easy match but it’s good for me to win them. Arthur Fils

The French star first grabbed headlines when he won his maiden ATP title in Lyon, the week before Roland Garros. Though Fils, who could face No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev in the fourth round, is poised to return to Paris among the dark horse contenders to win the Coupe des Mousquetaires, the Courcouronnes native is trying not to look too far ahead.

“I’m still focused on here,” said Fils. “It’s a tough tournament, Rome. It’s a Masters 1000 with a lot of points, a lot of great players. Everyone is here. I have to stay focused on this tournament and then I will go to the French Open. Of course, it’s always better to play good before the French Open than to play bad.”