Issued on: 22/07/2024 – 11:37

1 minute

The 20-year-old, who reached the last 16 at Wimbledon on grass 10 days ago, defeated world number four and top favourite for the tournament Alex Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 on Sunday to claim his second senior tour title.

In May 2023, Fils won the ATP 250 in Lyon and just over a year later he needed more than three and a half hours to beat the reigning champion to lift an ATP 500 championship trophy.

The victory, which took revenge for his semi-final defeat last year to Hamburg-born Zverev, sparked controversy.

Fils, who saved 21 of the 22 break points he faced, used a forearm serve late in the match to score a point.

“When the roof was closed, I knew it was going to be a fight, a dogfight of sorts,” Fils said.

“You just have to fight until the last point, until the last ball. I’ve been practicing for a long time for these kind of moments, so I’m very happy that I won it.”

Forearm serve

The 27-year-old Zverev, who lost the thrilling French Open final in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in June, was aiming to become only the fifth man to defend his title in the tournament’s 52-year history.

“I’m very happy with the way I played for three and a half hours,” Fils added. “I think I did everything I could to win this match.

“I got a cramp at 5-5 in the third. I had a cramp and tried a forearm serve because I couldn’t serve normally. The crowd took it badly. I don’t care. I won and that’s it.”

In the day’s other Franco-German showdown, second-seeded Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Fabien Reboul 7-6, 6-2 to take the doubles title.