Arthur Fils described Rafael Jodar as the “man in form” ahead of his blockbuster 2026 Canadian Open quarter-final clash with the 19-year-old Spanish star.
Fils and Jodar will face off on Monday in what promises to be the standout match of the quarter-final line-up at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal.
It will be the third meeting between the duo, with Fils winning their first encounter at the Barcelona Open in April before Jodar prevailed at the Washington Open at the end of July.
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic all withdrew before the Canadian Open, while top seed Alexander Zverev suffered a shock defeat in his opening match.
In the absence of these big names, Fils and Jodar — who are both seeking their maiden Masters 1000 title — are two of the strong candidates to secure the Montreal crown.
Ben Shelton, the defending champion and No 5 seed, is the only top 10 player to reach the last eight in Canada.
In the fourth round, Fils defeated world No 37 Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-6(8), while Jodar dismantled Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3.
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Following his fourth round win against Norrie, Fils said: “It was a great battle. Those last 30 minutes of the match, with the tiebreak, were incredible, worthy of a Saturday night.
“I played very well in the first set, but in the second, he raised his level and made changes in rhythm that I found hard to interpret, and I didn’t take advantage of the opportunities I had. Luckily, I was able to close it out in two sets, which is very important for me.”
Having been in sensational form across February, March and April, Fils was derailed by a hip injury at the Italian Open that also forced him to miss Roland Garros.
Prior to his three straight wins in Montreal, Fils had not won back-to-back matches since the Madrid Masters in April.
The 22-year-old Frenchman spoke about his confidence ahead of facing Jodar.
“It had been a long time since I’d played several matches in a row at my best, without any discomfort, and that gives me more confidence and allows me to improve my tennis,” said Fils.
“I feel like my backhand is working again and I’m improving every day. I’m very happy.
“I know him, we’ve played twice, it’s one all. It’s going to be a big match. I’m eager to get on the pitch. He’s the man in form, I’m going to see what I’m worth in this match.”
Fils also addressed the crowd support he has been receiving in Montreal.
“I feel like I’m really at home, there’s a lot of support behind me. I feel like every point is celebrated as if I’d won a match, so it’s really cool,” he added.
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