Frenchman Arthur Fils caused one of the big surprises at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 by eliminating ninth-seeded Félix Auger-Aliassime, winning 6-3 and 7-6 (9) in the round of 16. Fils saved five set points in the second set tiebreak and rallied from 0-5 to secure one of the most impactful victories of the day. The Frenchman dominated the first set with authority, but the second chapter presented a different scenario. Fils raised his level and forced a tiebreak, where he took a 5-0 lead and was two points away from forcing a third set. However, the Canadian could not maintain the difference and wasted five opportunities to win the set at 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 7-6 and 9-8. The Frenchman withstood the pressure, chained key points and, after saving the last set point, won the next three points to close out the match. The victory represented Fils's eighth win against a Top 10 player and also marked his fourth quarterfinal appearance at a Masters 1000, all during 2025 and 2026, with appearances in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo. In the next round, he will face German Alexander Zverev, who advanced with authority after defeating American Frances Tiafoe 6-3 and 6-4 in an hour and a half. The world number three showed solidity throughout the match and will now look for a place in the semifinals against the Frenchman.
