US Open: Arthur Fils lets second set slip against Stefanos Tsitsipas

Arthur Fils appeared close to taking control of his US Open first-round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Leading 5-3 and serving for the second set, the ambitious 22-year-old Frenchman instead allowed the Greek to recover.

Tsitsipas broke back on his second opportunity after Fils tightened at the crucial moment, producing a double fault and a backhand into the net. The Frenchman had looked set to close out the set, but the score became 5-4 and the contest reset.

Tsitsipas then held serve to make it 5-5, forcing a tiebreak. He opened a 3-1 lead as his forehand began to trouble Fils, who fell two points behind at the changeover. Tsitsipas earned four set points before finishing the tiebreak 7-3 with another unreturnable serve.

The second set ended 7-6 for Tsitsipas, leaving the match level at one set each. Fils had made nine unforced errors in the set, despite landing 68% of his first serves. The match was described as a contest that had changed after the Frenchman’s early advantage disappeared.