Fils sets up Rublev showdown in Barcelona final after overcoming Jodar
Andrey Rublev and Arthur Fils will be going head-to-head for their first Tour title this year after they reached the Barcelona Open final.
Arthur Fils came back from a set down to defeat Rafael Jodar and reach the Barcelona Open final.
The Frenchman won 3-6 6-3 6-2 in one hour and 52 minutes to reach his second ATP 500 final of the year, also doing so in Doha.
Nineteen-year-old Jodar looked to be on his way to an upset, saving four break points before converting one of his own in the eighth game, before taking the first set.
However, Fils forced a decider after converting a break point in the eighth game of the second and saving three in the following game before eventually winning the set.
The third was the most straightforward, with Fils breaking Jodar's serve twice, but the finalist was quick to praise the teenager.
"On the TV, I don鈥檛 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 will face fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the showpiece after the latter defeated Hamad Medjedovic 3-6 6-2 6-2 in just under two hours.
Data Debrief: Century up for Fils
Fils' victory was his 100th on the ATP Tour, with the 21-year-old firing after an eight-month back injury affected his 2025 campaign.
In 2026, Fils has a 17-5 record, while he also brought Jodar's eight-match winning streak to an end.
Rublev, meanwhile, reached his first Tour final of the season and 29th overall after ending a four-match semi-final losing run.
