Barcelona
Fils denies #NextGenATP Jodar, sets Rublev final in Barcelona
Fils battles in three sets to claim 100th tour-level win
April 18, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Arthur Fils defeats Rafael Jodar in three sets on Saturday in Barcelona.
By ATP Staff
Arthur Fils absorbed the full force of Rafael Jodar’s rapid rise on Saturday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, but the ninth seed refused to become the Spaniard’s next breakthrough scalp.
In a high-octane clash between two of the ATP Tour’s brightest young talents, Fils powered to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory to reach his second ATP 500 final of the season. The 21-year-old Frenchman struck 28 winners in front of an energised Catalan crowd, bringing an end to Jodar’s impressive eight-match winning streak.
Fils fires up the century 🔥@ArthurFils battles back into the Barcelona final 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 past teenage sensation Jodar@bcnopenbs | #BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/RzUzLHJATA
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 18, 2026
“On the TV, I don’t think you can see how hard he [Jodar] is hitting,” Fils said. “The ball is flying and coming very fast. It took me one set to get used to his quality, and then after I felt better and I finished very strong. But he is going to be a pain in the a*** to play.”
Fils sealed the win in one hour and 51 minutes, notching his 100th tour-level victory. The Frenchman now turns his focus to a championship showdown with Andrey Rublev, who earlier rallied past qualifier Hamad Medjedovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
After an injury-hit 2025 season in which a back issue sidelined him for eight months, Fils has enjoyed a strong resurgence. Since returning in Montpellier in February, the former World No. 14 has compiled a 17-5 record in 2026, highlighted by a run to the ATP 500 final in Doha—where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz—and a semi-final appearance in Miami.
Facing Jodar for the first time, Fils showed composure under pressure, saving six of the seven break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. While the 19-year-old Spaniard matched him shot for shot early on, Fils raised his level decisively in the final two sets, striking with greater authority and consistency to take control.
Despite the loss, Jodar continues to turn heads in his breakthrough season. Following his semi-final showing on debut in Barcelona, he has jumped 13 places to No. 42 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The teenager claimed his maiden ATP Tour title in Marrakech earlier this month.
Earlier, Rublev snapped a four-match semi-final losing streak by defeating Medjedovic to reach his 29th ATP Tour final—and his first of the 2026 season.
“A title is always something different,” Fils said, previewing the final. “You can win a lot of matches during a year and still not win a title. Rublo is a great champion. We had some big battles in the past, so it’s not going to be easy.”
