Match Report
Fils wins first match since August in Montpellier
Frenchmen Blanchet Humbert, Droguet advance at ATP 250
February 03, 2026
@Open Occitanie | TV Sport Occasions
Arthur Fils celebrates on Tuesday in Montpellier.
By Sam Jacot
Arthur Fils made a triumphant return to the ATP Tour on Tuesday on the Open Occitanie Montpellier, the place he overcame Valentin Royer 7-6(7), 6-7(4), 6-2.
Competing for the primary time since August, the dynamic Frenchman saved one set level within the first set and produced an exhilarating third-set show to lift the roof on the ATP 250 indoor occasion. Fils, who has been battling a again damage for the reason that finish of Might, had final tasted victory in July in Toronto.
“It was a troublesome match. He is a superb opponent and he put me below stress,” Fils stated. “I used to be working loads and my legs really feel it now, however I’m very joyful to win. It has been a very long time out of the court docket and [to have] an environment like this was [amazing].
“On the finish of the primary set I felt fairly good. Then the second set began and I felt a bit worse, however I completed very strongly… I had a lot enjoyable. I used to be speaking to my field. I’m having fun with this. It has been a very long time.”
The 21-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in Montpellier in 2023, has now earned 50 tour-level hard-court wins. He’ll proceed his comeback towards Ugo Blanchet, who defeated doubles star Andrea Vavassori 6-4, 6-3.
Earlier, fifth-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert continued his spectacular residence type indoors, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4 to succeed in the second spherical. Humbert has received 19 of his previous 20 matches indoors in France, lifting titles in Metz and Marseille (twice) in that point, in keeping with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Along with his 73-minute win, Humbert improved to 5-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence towards Van de Zandschulp.
American qualifier Martin Damm scored an upset win towards seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz. The 22-year-old, presently No. 160 within the PIF ATP Rankings, recorded his third Prime 100 victory in a single hour and 33 minutes. Damm will face Roberto Bautista Agut within the second spherical.
Pablo Carreno Busta and French qualifier Titouan Droguet additionally earned wins on the ATP 250 occasion on Day 2. Carreno Busta beat Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), whereas Drouget downed Jan Choinski 6-2, 7-6(2).
