Fils powers past Rublev to win Barcelona Open

Frenchman Arthur Fils has overpowered Russia's higher-ranked Andrey Rublev 6-2 7-6(2) to win the Barcelona Open on Sunday, clinching his first title since 2024.

Fils, who suffered a lower-back stress fracture last year, returned in February and reached the final of the Qatar Open and the semi-final of the Miami Open, before winning his fourth ATP title on Sunday, and his third on clay, with the French Open a month away.

"It's been a tough (few) months, struggling with the injury... but we're back on the court and win the trophy, so pretty happy about that," Fils said at the trophy presentation ceremony.

In the first game, he missed the baseline with a couple of shots, handing Rublev a break. But Fils dug deep to get even, breaking back in the fourth game to make it 2-2.

Rublev struggled to keep up as Fils, now more precise with his forehand returns, picked out the edges of the sideline and sent powerful returns past the frustrated fifth seed to win the first set in 31 minutes.

Fils won seven games straight before world number 15 Rublev managed to hold his own serve to make it 1-1 in the second set. The 28-year-old fended off seven break points to prevail in a 13-minute battle to stay even at 2-2.

The 21-year-old outwitted Rublev with a backhand drop shot to get a break and go 4-2 up. But when Fils was 5-3 up serving for the tournament, the world number 30 made three straight errors to hand Rublev a break.

Rublev then saved three match points to hold his serve and make it 5-5, and broke Fils to go 6-5 up. But Fils broke back in the very next game to force a tiebreak, which he won 7-2.

"The way you are playing, it's ridiculous... you proved that you're one of the best players on the Tour," Rublev told Fils.