He let go of his racket before turning to his clan in the stands to offer him a wide and beautiful smile. Friday, after a terrible marathon in 3 sets (7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5)) and almost 3 hours of play (2h55 exactly) against the American Brandon Nakashima, Arthur Son qualified for the final of the tournament of Lyon. A first on the pro circuit after two semifinals lost in Marseille and Montpellier on ATP 250.
If he had benefited from the forfeit of the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (hit in the shoulder) Thursday in the quarterfinals to win his sesame for his 3rd last square in an ATP 250 tournament, the young hope of French tennis, who will blow out his 19 candles on June 12, owes nothing to anyone this time.
What a fight! Arthur Fils wins 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5) in almost 3 hours!
See you at 14:30 pm on Saturday for its first final, against Cerundolo
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The native of Bondoufle (Essonne) even thought he had won a first time when, at 5-4 in the 3rd set, a ball of his opponent was judged "out". Released, Laurent Raymond's student collapsed on the clay of Lyon... before seeing the referee validate the opponent's point. Despite this blow of fate and cramps at the end of the match, Son was able to control his nerves to finally win on a backhand too long of the American, seeded number 8 of the tournament.
"It's one of the best moments of my young career"
"I'm happy to get out of it, it was not easy especially against such a player who did not give me many points," he said in a press conference. It served very well and I had a hard time returning. He oppressed me. I had to find solutions, found more or less well, especially in the end. It turned the game around a bit. It's one of the best moments of my young career but to qualify for my first final on the ATP Tour with the crazy crowd is almost unheard of for me. But I'm already focused on my final. »
He will face in Saturday's final the Argentine Francisco Cerundolo (world No. 28), winner of his side of the British Cameron Norrie (6-3, 6-0). "He's a very good opponent I've never played," he said. I've seen him many times on TV. It won't be easy and I'll have to know how to manage it well and if I can do it, I may have a chance to win. ».
Whatever the result, his run in Lyon should allow the Roland Garros junior singles finalist and doubles winner with Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard in 2021 to jump in the world rankings. Currently ranked 112th, it should emerge around 90th next week.
He is the 4th French player in three decades - after Fabrice Santoro (Toulouse in 1990), Richard Gasquet (Metz in 2004 and Hamburg in 2005) and Gaël Monfils (Sopot in 2005) - to qualify for a final on the main circuit before his 19th birthday.
In the wake of his final, he will head to Paris to play the Roland-Garros tournament. He will face the terrible Spanish specialist Davidovich Fokina on Sunday in the first round. "Playing Roland at home, with the public that will push me, it's one of the biggest goals of the year, had indicated the interested party when receiving his wild-card (invitation). It's going to be fun and I'm going to enjoy. Without putting any pressure on myself, I will try to tear myself away and have a lot of fun. »
