Will Arthur Fils or Jiri Lehecka earn first Masters 1000 remaining berth? | ATP Tour

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Will Fils or Lehecka earn first Masters 1000 remaining berth?

Frenchman Fils leads Czech 2-1 in pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Headvert sequence

March 27, 2026

Arthur Fils remains to be standing on the Miami Open presented by Itau, however solely simply.

The 21-year-old Frenchman saved 4 match factors towards Tommy Paul to achieve his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, a second that would outline the early years of a profession already stuffed with promise. Now, using the wave of perception that comes from surviving the brink, Fils has his eyes set on one thing even greater.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2023 with a breakthrough title in Lyon, Fils has captured the creativeness of followers along with his aptitude, fearless shotmaking and never-say-die angle. In 2024, he continued his regular climb with ATP 500 triumphs in Hamburg and Tokyo. Yet, a run to the Miami remaining would mark the top of his younger profession.

Waiting for him in Friday’s semi-final is twenty first seed Jiri Lehecka. The 24-year-old Czech reached the final 4 at a Masters 1000 for the second time following wins towards Moise Kouame, Ethan Quinn, Taylor Fritz and Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce. His earlier semi-final at this degree, in Madrid 2024, ended abruptly when he retired towards Felix Auger-Aliassime as a consequence of a again harm that stored him sidelined for greater than three months.

Two years on and Lehecka sees a distinct model of himself in Miami.

“I think I’m a completely different player since that moment,” mentioned Lehecka, who’s as much as No. 16 within the PIF ATP Live Rankings. “It was considered one of my first huge tournaments the place I went far. The match towards Rafael Nadal in Madrid was a lifetime expertise, however I nonetheless felt new in these late phases.

“I’ve put myself in a position where I know I can stay around the Top 20. From that spot, I felt I needed to put in more work to go further and get closer to the Top 10. That became my goal.”

While Lehecka is dependable, regular and constant, twenty eighth seed Fils is extra unpredictable, but able to moments of pure magic. The Frenchman was flawless in wins towards Stefanos Tsitsipas and Darwin Blanch after which confirmed his resilience in thrilling three-set victories towards Valentin Vacherot and Paul. By advancing to the semi-finals, he turned the youngest French ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist since a 21-year-old Richard Gasquet in 2007, however he isn’t stopping there.

“That’s the best result I’ve had in my life so far,” Fils mentioned after his win over Paul. “I will try to do my best in the semis, but now I’m pretty happy.”

Fils holds a 2-1 lead over Lehecka within the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Headvert sequence, and like his Czech opponent, he is aware of the challenges of bouncing again from harm. He suffered a again harm in May final yr, returning briefly in Toronto in July earlier than making his full comeback in Montpellier in February. Since then, he has reached the title match in Doha, the quarter-finals in Indian Wells, and now the semi-finals in Miami.

Two of the ATP Tour’s brightest stars, every examined by their very own setbacks, will now meet in Florida with a spot within the Miami remaining on the road. But who will seize the second? Find out on Friday.

When are the Miami tennis semi-finals? 

The Miami Open presented by Itau semi-finals will happen on Friday 27 March.

Who is taking part in within the Miami tennis semi-finals? 

The semi-finals function Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Jiri Lehecka and Arthur Fils.

How can I watch the Miami tennis semi-finals? 

Watch live on TennisTV
TV Schedule

Did You Know?
Since 2021, Hubert Hurkacz, Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik all received their maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami. Could Fils or Lehecka be subsequent?