TOKYO: Ugo Humbert will face Arthur Fils in an all-French final at the Japan Open after both players battled through their semi-finals on Monday.

Humbert, who is unbeaten in all six of his previous finals on the ATP tour, set up a showdown with his Paris Olympics doubles partner after beating the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Fils edged Denmark’s number six seed Holger Rune 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (12-10) to join him in the final.

Tuesday’s match will be the first all-French final on the ATP tour in four years.

Fils came through an epic encounter against defending champion Ben Shelton in his quarter-final and he again had to dig deep against Rune.

The Frenchman took the opening set in a tiebreak, with Rune smashing his racquet in frustration.

The Dane’s head looked to have gone when his serve was broken at the start of the set but he regained his poise and took Fils to another tiebreak.

Fils finally saw off his opponent when he converted his sixth match point.

Humbert took control early against world number 34 Machac but the Czech came back to win the second set.

Humbert made the decisive break to take a 4-2 lead in the third.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2024