The match between Daniil Medvedev and Arthur Fils in the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 was one of the best of the entire season so far. The Russian ace has not found his best tennis yet, but he is on his way to returning to the highest level and has started to fight again on every single point as in the past.
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The young French ace - on the other hand - has improved a lot in recent months and had a real chance to reach his first career semifinal in a Masters 1000.
After losing the first set, Fils showed all his mental strength by reacting in the best way and overturning the inertia of the challenge.
The French won the second set playing exceptional tennis and had a break lead in the third set, but Daniil's greater experience made the difference at that moment. The 2021 US Open champion who has reached the final in California in the last two editions recovered that break and extended the contest to the tiebreak, where he prevailed thanks in part to some avoidable errors by his opponent.
Fils is frustrated
Interviewed by 'L'Equipe' at the end of this beautiful battle, Fils admitted that he could have been more lucid in some situations: "I didn't make the right choice at certain times and some mistakes are decisive against a champion like Medvedev.
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I should have done better on certain occasions and I have regrets, I can't deny it. At 7-7 in the decisive tiebreak I could have played better, instead I shot three forehands in the same point.
I wasn't smart enough in the most tense moments. On match point in his favor I had made a great volley after the serve, but I didn't expect him to shoot such a passing shot and I was surprised.
I'm proud of my performance, but I also feel a bit frustrated with the result."
Arthur who had been one step away from elimination against Lorenzo Musetti by erasing a match point will certainly be able to achieve important results in the rest of the season if he continues to play in this way.
