Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked 53rd and unseeded, eliminated Arthur Fils, the 10th seed and reigning Cincinnati Masters champion, in the first round of the US Open 2026. The Greek prevailed 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4 on Louis Armstrong Stadium, delivering the standout result of his comeback to the top level.
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A dramatic turnaround after a set down
Fils, riding the momentum of his Cincinnati title and a 5-0 head-to-head record, appeared in control after claiming the opening set. The 21-year-old Frenchman had inflicted a devastating 6-0, 6-1 defeat on Tsitsipas at their most recent meeting in Miami just months earlier. But the second-set tiebreak proved the turning point: Tsitsipas seized it 7-3 with renewed aggression, firing forehand winners down the line with the confidence of his peak years.
The resurgence of a former Grand Slam contender
Tsitsipas's recent trajectory makes this victory all the more remarkable. The former world No. 3, once a semi-finalist at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, endured a prolonged spell on the sidelines due to career-threatening back injuries. Having slipped to 53rd in the rankings, he had not beaten a top-10 player at a Grand Slam since 2022.
The Fils paradox at Grand Slams
This defeat highlights a recurring pattern in Fils's young career: dominant at Masters 1000 level, the Frenchman has never reached a Grand Slam quarter-final. His run at Flushing Meadows ends prematurely once again, despite arriving as one of the form players on tour. The best-of-five-set format continues to pose an additional challenge for the young Lyonnais.
Tsitsipas will face the winner of Yannick Hanfmann versus Luciano Darderi in the second round, hoping to extend a run reminiscent of his finest days on tour. (Sources: Yahoo Sports, Last Word on Sports, ATP Tour)
