Arthur Fils marked his return to the ATP Tour with a marathon win at the Open Occitanie Montpellier on Tuesday, beating fellow Frenchman Valentin Royer 7-6(7), 6-7(4), 6-2 in his first match since August. The 21-year-old, who has dealt with a back injury since late May and last won a tour match in July in Toronto, saved a set point in the opening tiebreak and pulled away in the third set. The former Montpellier semifinalist also reached a milestone with his 50th tour-level victory on hard courts. He will face Ugo Blanchet next, after Blanchet defeated Andrea Vavassori 6-4, 6-3. Fils described the contest as demanding and said he was pleased to be back, acknowledging the heavy workload on his legs and crediting the lively indoor atmosphere for a strong finish.
Highlights from the Open Occitanie Montpellier
Fifth seed Ugo Humbert advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Botic van de Zandschulp in just 73 minutes. The Frenchman improved to 5-0 in their head-to-head and has now won 19 of his past 20 indoor matches in France, a remarkable streak that includes titles in Metz and two in Marseille.
In a surprising turn of events, American qualifier Martin Damm produced the upset of the day by eliminating seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz. The 22-year-old, ranked No. 160, claimed his third career win over a Top 100 opponent in 1 hour and 33 minutes and will meet Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Pablo Carreño Busta edged Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), demonstrating the competitive spirit that defines the ATP 250 indoor event. Additionally, French qualifier Titouan Droguet beat Jan Choinski 6-2, 7-6(2), showcasing the depth of talent present at this year’s Open Occitanie Montpellier.
As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling matches and potential upsets in this exciting indoor event. The hard court surface promises fast-paced action and gripping rallies as players vie for the title.