Fils Advances to Barcelona Open Semifinals After Tsitsipas Withdrawal

BARCELONA, Spain — Arthur Fils has advanced to the semifinals of the Barcelona Open after his quarterfinal opponent, Stefanos Tsitsipas, withdrew due to injury. The unusual conclusion occurred Friday, April 18, 2025, with Fils leading 2-0 when Tsitsipas made the difficult decision to retire from the match.

The Greek player appeared unwell from the outset and struggled to match Fils’s energetic play. Early in the match, Tsitsipas left the court seeking medical attention but returned shortly after. However, it was evident that he was not fit to continue, ultimately retiring during the third game.

This marked a disappointing end for Tsitsipas, who now shifts his focus to the upcoming ATP 1000 event in Madrid. Following Tsitsipas’s withdrawal, Fils expressed mixed feelings regarding the outcome. “We played six minutes and will now stop for six minutes… I was ready to battle for a few hours because he’s a champion,” he said.

Fils, who turns 21 soon, is enjoying a strong season, having already secured three titles. As he looks ahead to the semifinals, where he is set to face top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz on Holy Saturday, he acknowledged he learned a lot from their previous match at the Monte Carlo Masters last week. “Tomorrow is gonna be different. We are in Spain. He’s playing great here. I think he won twice already. So yeah, it’s gonna be a nice one,” Fils remarked.

Only a year younger than Alcaraz, Fils is determined to elevate his game as he prepares for the French Open. Thus far, he has not advanced beyond the fourth round of a major tournament and aims to change that this year.

In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz secured a solid victory over Alex de Minaur, winning 7-5, 6-3, and recording his eighth straight win this season. The clash between Fils and Alcaraz promises to be an electrifying matchup, with both players viewed as central figures in the future of tennis.

As the tennis world focuses on the developments surrounding Tsitsipas, fans have rallied to support his recovery. “Get well soon, @steftsitsipas,” tweeted Tennis TV. The uncertainty of Tsitsipas’s condition raises questions about his participation in upcoming tournaments, yet he is determined to make a strong comeback.

For Fils, the semifinals represent a significant opportunity. If he can reach the final, he may break into the top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time.

As excitement builds ahead of the semifinals on April 19, 2025, the tennis community remains hopeful for Tsitsipas’s swift recovery while keenly anticipating the showdown between Fils and Alcaraz.