Arthur Fils emerges victorious but diminished from his second round match at Roland-Garros

Arthur Fils experienced a riot of emotions during his second round at Roland Garros on Thursday, May 29. First came the hope of victory, then disappointment. Then came an unprecedented awakening, and finally, liberation. After 4 hours and 25 minutes of play and five sets against Spaniard Jaume Munar, world ^number 57, the French number one finally let his joy explode on the Suzanne-Lenglen court. The 20-year-old has just won the longest match of his young career.

The player, who had never advanced beyond the first round in his last three appearances at Porte d'Auteuil – for the 2023 and 2024 editions of Roland-Garros and at the Paris Olympic Games – initially led by two sets (7-6, 7-6). But just as victory seemed to be on the cards, the player suffered thigh cramps and then suffered back pain, requiring medical intervention twice. Struggling physically, the Essonne native then lost the next two sets (6-4, 6-0), without really putting up a fight. What's next? The world number 14 came back from the brink to win four games in a row in the final set and finally prevail. Arthur Fils will face Russia's Andrey Rublev ( ^15th ) in the ^third round on Saturday. But in what form?

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