Miami Open: Fils stuns Top seed as Dimitrov moved past Cerundolo

Arthur Fils rallied from a set down and overcame troubles with back pain to earn the biggest win of his career by PIF ATP Ranking on Wednesday at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

The 20-year-old Frenchman upset top seed Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to book his quarter-final spot at the hard-court ATP Masters 1000. Just as he did in his third-round victory against Frances Tiafoe, Fils reacted to mid-match physical struggles by upping the aggression in his game. After receiving treatment on his back at the end of the first set, he wore down World No. 2 Zverev with his powerful hitting for a two-hour triumph.

“I was feeling not great in the rallies. I’ve had a little problem in my back since I was young, so sometimes it hurts me a little bit,” explained Fils. “I had to find a rhythm, [be] more aggressive and come into the court to play my game and not let him play, because when you let him play he is one of the best tennis players in the world. I’m really happy about the way I did it.”

Having also reached the quarter-finals at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells earlier this month, Fils is only the third Frenchman to reach the last eight at both ‘Sunshine Double’ events in the same year after Yannick Noah (1896-87, 1989) and Gael Monfils (2016). He will take on his fellow 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF competitor Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov saved a match point to survive Francisco Cerundolo 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3) after two hours, 48 minutes on Wednesday at the Miami Open presented, where the Bulgarian claimed a gritty 150th match win at ATP Masters 1000 level to advance to the semi-finals.

Up next for the 14th seed will be six-time champion Novak Djokovic or American Sebastian Korda whose match was postponed till Thursday In accordance with ATP rules that do not allow for a match to go on court after 11 p.m.