Marie Mahé, Media365, published on Wednesday January 15, 2025 at 11:20 a.m.
Against his compatriot Quentin Halys, Frenchman Arthur Fils needed four sets to escape the second round of the Australian Open.
Arthur Fils enforced the hierarchy. This Wednesday, the Frenchman, 21st player in the world and seeded No. 20, beat his compatriot Quentin Halys, 74th player in the world, in four sets (6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5 ) and 2h31 of play, to validate his qualification for the third round of the Australian Open, on hard court. In the first set, Arthur Fils managed a first break at 1-1, before a double-break straight away on his third opportunity. The 21st player in the world then pocketed this first set on his third ball (6-2). In the second set, Quentin Halys missed two entry break points. Finally, at the best of times, and more precisely at 5-4, the 74th player in the world tried twice to take his opponent's service and equalize at one set all (6-4). In the third set, Quentin Halys once again missed two break opportunities at the start. At 2-2, the 74th player in the world had to save two in turn.
Halys gave in on a final break
Both players ended up going to a tie-break. In this decisive game, the No. 20 seed broke away from 2-2, to collect the last five points and lead two sets to one (7-6 (2)). Finally, in the fourth and final round, the two players began by neutralizing each other. At 4-5, Quentin Halys had to save two break points, synonymous with match points. The 74th player in the world ultimately only delayed the deadline. On his next throw-in, the last, Quentin Halys ended up giving up this match (7-5). Among the women, three new matches ended. The American Coco Gauff, 3rd player in the world and seeded n°3, dismissed the British Jodie Burrage, 173rd player in the world, in two sets (6-3, 7-5) and 1h31 of play. Qualifications also for the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, seeded n°17, and for the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, seeded n°27.
