How Arthur Fils is silently beating Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and why it matters

Arthur Fils stepping up under pressure ahead of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Fils has dealt with a number of injuries during his career, the most recent being his withdrawal from his opening match in Rome.

Despite that, the talented Frenchman has not only managed to keep pace with Sinner and Alcaraz when it comes to performing under pressure, but he’s actually leading the pack right now.

The ATP Tour tracks three key stats over a 52-week period: Serve, Return, and Under Pressure.

Sinner currently leads both Serve and Return categories. But it’s Fils who tops the Under Pressure list, with Sinner in second and Alcaraz third.

The Under Pressure rating is put together by looking at break points converted and saved, tie-breaks won, and deciding sets won. It’s a good sign for Fils heading into the rest of the season.

Arthur Fils has the perfect opportunity to challenge Jannik Sinner

Fils should take encouragement from his recent numbers, but he’ll be keen to do more than just track the top players. The real test will be whether he can step up and challenge Sinner and Alcaraz in Grand Slams.

He’s still working his way back after a long spell out injured, and at just 21, there’s plenty of time for him to sharpen up different parts of his game.

Alcaraz being sidelined has opened up a gap at the top of men’s tennis, and there’s a real opportunity now for someone to put some heat on Sinner.

Even with the early exit in Rome, Fils can still draw confidence from his title run on clay in Barcelona not long before.

The French Open is next up on the schedule, where he’ll have huge support behind him playing at home in Paris. That comes with its own pressure, but Fils has already shown he can handle big moments in front of big crowds.

Sinner will also have much of the attention as he goes for a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros. That might help take some focus off Fils early on.