Fils beats Rublev for first title since 2024

Arthur Fils picked up his fourth career title with a straight-sets win over Andrey Rublev in the final of the Barcelona Open, closing it out 6–2, 7–6(2). 

Sunday’s victory marked his first title since 2024 and his first since returning from a long injury spell.

The match turned quickly after a short opening phase. Rublev moved ahead early, but once Fils found his feet, there was a shift. 

A break in the fourth game opened the set, and from there the Frenchman took control, winning a run of games that left little room for a response. Rublev struggled to settle into rallies, with Fils dictating through his forehand and keeping points on his terms.

By the time the first set closed at 6–2, the pattern was already clear. Fils was setting the tempo, while Rublev was reacting without finding a consistent answer.

The second set followed a similar structure, though with more resistance. Rublev held through a long service game to stay level early, but another break put Fils in front again. Serving for the match at 5–3, he let the chance slip with a sequence of errors, allowing Rublev back into it.

That shift did not last. Even after Rublev recovered from 0–40 in the next game and pushed the set to a tiebreak, Fils got back control at the key moment. After falling behind early in the breaker, he ran through seven straight points to close the match.

The result moves Fils into the top 25 for the first time, serving as a reward for a run of results built over recent weeks. 

Quarterfinal appearances leading into Barcelona had already pointed to progress, and this title adds weight to that trend heading into the clay stretch.

For Rublev, the final offered a chance to build on his run to the last match of the week, his first of the season. He’s been quite steadfast, but was unable to hold that level across longer phases of the contest.