Fils under the lights on day one
Arthur Fils will not have to wait long. The Frenchman plays his first ATP Finals match on Sunday night in Turin, at 20:30 local time, against Ben Shelton. The schedule was published earlier today, a few hours after the draw put both men in the John McEnroe group.
It is a meeting with history on both sides. They played twice in 2024 and split them. Fils won a three-setter in the Tokyo quarter-finals, 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2). Shelton got the rematch in the Basel semi-finals, 6-3, 7-6(9), on the indoor hard courts that look a lot like Turin’s.
Fils, ranked seventh, is the first French player at the season finale since Gael Monfils in 2016. Shelton arrives as world No 4 and a recent Paris Masters finalist.
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World No 1 gets things started
The other half of the McEnroe group goes first. Alexander Zverev, the world No 1, faces Spain’s Rafael Jodar at 14:00 on Sunday in the opening singles match of the week. That puts Fils in the same section as the top seed, with Jodar as his third round-robin opponent.
A French doubles pair also plays on day one. Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti meet Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic at 18:00, just before Fils walks on.
Alcaraz waits until Monday
The Ivan Lendl group starts a day later. Carlos Alcaraz, fresh from his Paris title, opens against Frances Tiafoe at 14:00 on Monday. Daniil Medvedev and Flavio Cobolli close that evening’s programme at 20:30. The rest of the order of play has not been released yet.
Two from each group of four reach the semi-finals, so Sunday night matters for Fils. Beat Shelton and he goes into Zverev and Jodar with breathing room.
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