Match Report
Fils overcomes Rublev, claims Barcelona crown for first title since injury
Frenchman wins first title since Tokyo 2024
April 19, 2026
Manaure Quintero / AFP via Getty Images
Arthur Fils downs Andrey Rublev to win the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell title.
By ATP Staff
Arthur Fils held his nerve through a dramatic late surge from Andrey Rublev at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Sunday when he defeated the 28-year-old 6-2, 7-6(2) in the championship match to clinch the title at the clay-court ATP 500 event.
The Frenchman looked poised to close out a routine victory, leading 5-2 in the second set and later serving for the championship at 5-3. However, Rublev mounted a late surge, breaking back after a double fault from Fils to make it 5-4. On Rublev’s serve, Fils earned three championship points but could not convert, as the 28-year-old reeled off five consecutive points to level at 5-5.
The momentum swung further when Rublev broke again to lead 6-5. Refusing to yield, Fils broke straight back to force a tie-break, where he regained control and closed out the match with seven straight points to secure his first title since Tokyo 2024.
“It was terrible,” Fils said about the end of the match. “The end of the second set was just about the mental [pressure]. The whole match was a bit tough because I was a bit tight. I played well for a set and a half, but when I had to close, I started to think a little. But I’m very happy with the way I played the tie-break.”
Fils also showcased some early nerves in Sunday’s final by dropping serve in the opening game of the match. But the 21-year-old outlasted Rublev from the baseline, continued to apply pressure from the back of the court, winning six consecutive games to clinch the first set.
Overall, the Frenchman struck 31 winners to 10 from Rublev and won 68 per cent (26/38) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. With his one-hour, 40-minute victory, Fils improved to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Rublev.
The win also marked another step in Fils’ steady resurgence following an eight-month layoff in 2025 due to a back injury. Since returning to the Tour in February, the former World No. 14 has reached the final in Doha, the quarter-finals in Indian Wells, and the semi-finals in Miami, underlining a rapid return to form.
“I want to say big thanks to my team,” Fils said. “We did one hell of a job. It’s been eight months struggling with injury, but now we are back on the court and we have won the trophy. I am pretty happy about that.”
The title run capped a memorable week for Fils. The ninth seed was on the brink of an early exit before he saved two match points against Terence Atmane in the first round. He then beat Brandon Nakashima, upset second seed Lorenzo Musetti and outlasted Rafael Jodar to reach the championship match in Barcelona for the first time.
With the win, Fils has risen four places to No. 25 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to replace Arthur Rinderknech to become the French No. 1 for the first time since September 2025. Fils, who is pursuing his first Nitto ATP Finals qualification, is now up to sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, the season-to-date standings.
Rublev, who was competing in the Barcelona final for the first time, was aiming to win his first title since Doha 2025. The 28-year-old will next play at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he won the title in 2024.
