MASON, Ohio: Arthur Fils of France defeated American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 to capture his first Masters 1000 title Sunday at the Cincinnati Open.
It was the first time two Black players have met in an ATP Masters 1000 final.
Fils is the third Black man to win a Masters 1000 title, joining Ben Shelton, who won twice in Canada, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who won in Paris in 2008 and Canada in 2014.
It was the second time Tiafoe has appeared in the Cincinnati Open final, losing to Jannik Sinner in 2024.
Fils overpowered Tiafoe early in the first set on Sunday, winning 12 of 13 points to take a 3-0 lead. Tiafoe was dominant in the second, rolling to a 3-0 lead.
Tiafoe used the time break before the third set to stretch and receive massage treatment on his upper left leg and lower back. Tiafoe saved two match points in the final game before Fils closed out the victory.
The Frenchman had 11 aces and won 71 percent of his points on first serve. He improved to 10-0 in deciding sets this year and 8-0 against American opponents.
Fils won his only previous meeting with Tiafoe in Miami last year, also in three sets.
Fils, 22, is the youngest French champion in Masters 1000 history. He became the second French player to win a Cincinnati final, joining Guy Forget in 1991.
France’s Fils beats American Tiafoe in 3 sets to win the Cincinnati Open
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France’s Fils beats American Tiafoe in 3 sets to win the Cincinnati Open
- Fils is the third Black man to win a Masters 1000 title and second French player to win a Cincinnati final
- It was the second time Tiafoe has appeared in the Cincinnati Open final, losing to Jannik Sinner in 2024
