Match Report
Fils dismisses Musetti, advances to Barcelona SFs
Rublev, Medjedovic earn QF wins at ATP 500 occasion
April 17, 2026
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Arthur Fils celebrates on Friday in Barcelona.
By Sam Jacot
Arthur Fils continued his spectacular 2026 on Friday on the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, the place he dispatched second seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4 to attain the semi-finals on the ATP 500 occasion.
Fils was sidelined for eight months due to damage however has been purple scorching since returning in February. The Frenchman reached the ultimate in Doha after which performed nicely through the ‘Sunshine Double’, advancing to the final 4 in Miami and the quarter-finals in Indian Wells.
Competing on clay for the primary time this season in Barcelona, Fils saved two match factors in his opening win towards Terence Atmane earlier than he brushed previous Brandon Nakashima. The 21-year-old performed with confidence towards Musetti, outlasting the Italian on the backhand exchanges in the important thing moments to triumph after 86 minutes.
“Everyone waits for the big serve and big forehand, but I have a good backhand and can stay there without missing a backhand. I was happy with the performance today, pretty solid throughout,” Fils stated. “With Lorenzo, it is always very tough because he can change the rhythm. He does a slice and then one with spin. It is a lot of mix. I tried to be very aggressive on the court.”
Fils has now earned two Top 10 wins in 2026 and is into his thirteenth tour-level semi-final. The No. 30 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings reached this stage in Barcelona final 12 months however will intention to go additional. Fils subsequent meets Spanish wild card Rafael Jodar.
Musetti arrived in Barcelona having not earned a tour-level win for the reason that Australian Open in January. The Italian defeated Martin Landaluce and Corentin Moutet on the clay-court occasion.
Earlier, Andrey Rublev set a semi-final conflict with Hamad Medjedovic. Fifth seed Rublev rolled previous Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-3 to attain the final 4 in Barcelona for the primary time. The 28-year-old has loved an ideal week on the clay-court occasion, having not misplaced a set by way of his opening three matches.
The World No. 15 holds a 4-0 document in tour-level quarter-finals this 12 months however has but to switch a deep run right into a title. Rublev’s final triumph got here on the ATP 500 occasion in Doha final 12 months.
Medjedovic backed up his upset win towards Alex de Minaur by downing Nuno Borges 7-6(6), 6-2. The Serbian qualifier is into the semi-finals at an ATP 500 occasion for the primary time and is up 20 spots to No. 68 within the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
