ATP Tour

Fils wins first match since August in Montpellier

Arthur Fils made a triumphant return to the ATP Tour on Tuesday at the Open Occitanie Montpellier, where he overcame Valentin Royer 7-6(7), 6-7(4), 6-2.

Competing for the first time since August, the dynamic Frenchman saved one set point in the first set and produced a thrilling third-set display to raise the roof at the ATP 250 indoor event. Fils, who has been battling a back injury since the end of May, had last tasted victory in July in Toronto.

"It was a tough match. He is a great opponent and he put me under pressure," Fils said. "I was running a lot and my legs feel it now, but I am very happy to win. It has been a long time out of the court and [to have] an atmosphere like this was [amazing].

"At the end of the first set I felt pretty good. Then the second set started and I felt a bit worse, but I finished very strongly... I had so much fun. I was talking to my box. I am enjoying this. It has been a long time."

The 21-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in Montpellier in 2023, has now earned 50 tour-level hard-court wins. He will continue his comeback against Ugo Blanchet, who defeated doubles star Andrea Vavassori 6-4, 6-3.

Earlier, fifth-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert continued his impressive home form indoors, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round. Humbert has won 19 of his past 20 matches indoors in France, lifting titles in Metz and Marseille (twice) in that time, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

With his 73-minute win, Humbert improved to 5-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Van de Zandschulp.

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American qualifier Martin Damm scored an upset win against seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz. The 22-year-old, currently No. 160 in the PIF ATP Rankings, recorded his third Top 100 victory in one hour and 33 minutes. Damm will face Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round.

Pablo Carreno Busta and French qualifier Titouan Droguet also earned wins at the ATP 250 event on Day 2. Carreno Busta beat Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), while Drouget downed Jan Choinski 6-2, 7-6(2).