Arthur Fils has scored a great victory this week in Paris without even playing a match.
Quentin Halys’ upset victory of Frances Tiafoe (Halys saved four match point to defeat Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(9)) means that the Frenchman has ensured qualification at the ATP Finals in Turin – the 22-year-old is the first man from France to qualify since Gael Monfils in 2016.
Fils, who faces Tomas Machac in first round action later on Wednesday, won his maiden Masters 1000 title at Cincinnati and made his Top 10 debut on September 28.
Two places remain to be claimed for this year’s ATP Finals field, with Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli qualifying ahead of Fils.
Cobolli, who will be the lone Italian in the singles field, qualified on Tuesday when Casper Ruud took out Rafael Jodar in Paris.
Tiafoe and Jodar are still No.7 and No.8 in the race, but they are now at the mercy of those chasing. Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul all have hope if they continue to progress in Paris.
Alex de Minaur was eliminated from the race on Wednesday evening, the Aussie dealt a 7-6(2), 6-3 loss to Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Tiafoe could have made his life much easier, as he served for the match at 5-4 in the third set against Halys, and had four match points in the third-set tiebreak.
The ATP Finals will take place from November 15-22 in Turin.
