Arthur Fils' journey ended Friday in the quarter-finals in Barcelona, where the Frenchman (36th in the world) lost 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 against Serbian Dusan Lajovic (59th). Falling in the round of 16 against the Australian Alex De Minaur, 11th player in the world, the 19-year-old Frenchman this time came up against Lajovic, finalist in Monte-Carlo in 2019. The Serbian will face the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (N. 7), winner last weekend in Monte-Carlo for the third time. The other semi-final will pit the Norwegian Casper Ruud, 6th in the world and finalist in the Principality against the Greek, against the Argentinian Thomas Martin Etcheverry (30th).
Facing Lajovic, Fils lost the first set 6-4, but responded perfectly in the second, pocketing 6-3. In the last set, the 33-year-old Serbian was more solid and made his experience speak against his young opponent who showed signs of annoyance. After two match points saved, Fils ended up giving in 6-2. The Frenchman may have regrets about this match which he seemed able to win, but his great Catalan week remains a good omen one month before Roland-Garros.