Miami
Fiers saves 4 MPs and shocks Paul in Miami thriller
Frenchman fights back from 2/6 in final set tie-break
March 26, 2026
Rich Stories/Getty Images
Arthur Fils is the youngest French ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist since 2007.
Grant Thompson
Arthur Fells dramatically saved four match points to shake off Tommy Paul at the ETA Miami Open on Wednesday.
In one match this season, the 21-year-old crushed the hopes of home favorite Paulo 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 7-6(6) to reach the ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals for the first time. Fiers failed to break Paul’s serve in the 2 hours and 47 minutes of the match, but scored 6 consecutive points from 2/6 in the final set tiebreaker to advance.
“It’s a dog fight and I never back down,” Fiers said in an on-field interview. “Even if I lose, it doesn’t matter. I just tried my best.”
what a warrior @arthurfels yes! ❤️@miamiopen | #miamiopen pic.twitter.com/NfpeLUbE03
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2026
The No. 28 seed showed relentless aggression throughout the night, hitting his shots harder and harder as the match wore on. Fiers enters Wednesday’s ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinals with an 0-4 record, including a loss in that round at Indian Wells earlier this month. By reaching the semi-finals, Fiers became the youngest French ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist since Richard Gasquet, 21, in 2007 (Paris).
“This is by far the best result I’ve ever had in my life,” Fiers said. “I’ll try to do my best in the semi-finals, but for now I’m happy.”
Fils’ next opponent is No. 21 seed Jiri Lehecka, with the Frenchman leading 2-1 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head Series. Their most recent meeting was in the Doha quarterfinals last month, with Fiers winning 6-3, 6-3.
