Match Report
Fils dismisses Musetti, advances to Barcelona SFs
Rublev, Medjedovic earn QF wins at ATP 500 event
April 17, 2026
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Arthur Fils celebrates on Friday in Barcelona.
By Sam Jacot
Arthur Fils continued his impressive 2026 on Friday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, where he dispatched second seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals at the ATP 500 event.
Fils was sidelined for eight months due to injury but has been red hot since returning in February. The Frenchman reached the final in Doha and then played well during the ‘Sunshine Double’, advancing to the last four in Miami and the quarter-finals in Indian Wells.
Competing on clay for the first time this season in Barcelona, Fils saved two match points in his opening win against Terence Atmane before he brushed past Brandon Nakashima. The 21-year-old played with confidence against Musetti, outlasting the Italian on the backhand exchanges in the key moments to triumph after 86 minutes.
“Everyone waits for the big serve and big forehand, but I have a good backhand and can stay there without missing a backhand. I was happy with the performance today, pretty solid throughout,” Fils said. “With Lorenzo, it is always very tough because he can change the rhythm. He does a slice and then one with spin. It is a lot of mix. I tried to be very aggressive on the court.”
Fils has now earned two Top 10 wins in 2026 and is into his 13th tour-level semi-final. The No. 30 player in the PIF ATP Rankings reached this stage in Barcelona last year but will aim to go further. Fils next meets Spanish wild card Rafael Jodar or Cameron Norrie.
Musetti arrived in Barcelona having not earned a tour-level win since the Australian Open in January. The Italian defeated Martin Landaluce and Corentin Moutet at the clay-court event.
Earlier, Andrey Rublev set a semi-final clash with Hamad Medjedovic. Fifth seed Rublev rolled past Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-3 to reach the last four in Barcelona for the first time. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a perfect week at the clay-court event, having not lost a set through his opening three matches.
The World No. 15 holds a 4-0 record in tour-level quarter-finals this year but has yet to transfer a deep run into a title. Rublev’s last triumph came at the ATP 500 event in Doha last year.
Medjedovic backed up his upset win against Alex de Minaur by downing Nuno Borges 7-6(6), 6-2. The Serbian qualifier is into the semi-finals at an ATP 500 event for the first time and is up 20 spots to No. 68 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
