HONG KONG ATP 250 TOURNAMENT 2025 – Led by one set by Arthur Fils, Alexandre Müller reversed the situation to get his ticket to the semi-finals.
For the first tennis week of 2025, we were already certain to see a Frenchman in the semi-finals in Hong Kong. Indeed, one of the quarter-finals was 100% French, with a logical favorite, Arthur Son. Seeded No. 4, the latter intended to start his year with a title, but had to be wary ofAlexandre Müllerwho had nothing to lose, his tournament having already been successful, and who had even saved match points in the previous round.
Müller turns everything upside down
But in the first set, Arthur Son asserted his favorite status. Too solid in his commitment despite a total breakdown of the first ball, he exploited the only break point of the set to take off with the score. A logical scenario given the presumed difference in level between the two players, and due to the fact that Müller did not exist on the opponent's throw-in, scoring only four points on his rival's serve. It was hard to imagine the trend reversing.
We were wrong, since Müller broke at the start of the second round by exploiting a guilty relaxation from his rival to take control. From then on, preserving his commitment proved crucial, but Fils put enormous pressure on the opponent's throw-in, multiplied the break points, and ended up recovering his property and returning to 4-3…to release his white service behind. Alexandre Müller served for the set and finished cleanly to achieve a decisive round that was unlikely 50 minutes earlier. However, the latter seemed in poor physical condition, as evidenced by the visit from the physiotherapist at the end of the set.
It's good though Müller who broke in the first game of the third set, and who then had the cards in hand to win. In the end, his mission would be made easier by the fact that Arthur Son was totally going to come out of his match. Without energy, without ideas, the youngest of the two Frenchmen finally gave up too easily, and the last round was one-sided in favor of Alexandre Müllerwinner 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and qualified for the semi-finals. It will be against Jaume Munar or Lorenzo Musettitomorrow, but the Habs proved that he was not there by chance.
