ATP/WTA: Fils and Rybakina fire signals of intent

It’s under a month until Roland-Garros 2026 launches into action and plenty of players are gaining momentum on the terre battue.

Hosts in France, Germany and Spain provided the settings for top-tier talents to dazzle last week, so let’s catch up on the key headlines.

“Unreal” Fils back in the winner’s circle

Taking to the microphone during the Barcelona Open trophy presentation, Andrey Rublev turned to Arthur Fils and said: “The way you are playing is ridiculous, the level you played today and overall the last couple of years, you proved you are one of the best on tour. Being out for a long time then playing again at that level is unreal. I’m really happy for you.”

It’s hard to argue with this after Fils captured his first title since Tokyo 2024 with a compelling 6-2, 7-6(2) triumph over Rublev in Spain on Sunday.

Remember, Fils suffered a lower back stress fracture during Roland-Garros last May. The 21-year-old evidently used his eight months on the sidelines wisely because since his return the former world No.14 has reached the Doha final, the Indian Wells quarter-finals as well as the Miami semi-finals. Now that is an immediate return to form.

Across to Barcelona and it was nearly over at the first hurdle, with Fils erasing two match points in his opening clash versus compatriot Terence Atmane. His explosive power play stunned No.2 seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals, prior to a 100th career victory in the semi-finals passing soaring Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar.

"I want to say big thanks to my team," said Fils. "We did one hell of a job. It's been eight months struggling with injury, but now we are back on the court and we have won the trophy. I am pretty happy about that."

Rybakina regain Stuttgart supremacy

World No.2 Elena Rybakina won two titles at the same event for the first time in her career courtesy of a 7-5, 6-1 triumph over Karolina Muchova in the Stuttgart final.

The 2024 winner earned a Stuttgart silverware showdown off the back of straight set victories over Diana Shnaider and No.6 seed Mirra Andreeva. However, just like Fils in Barcelona, Rybakina was also forced to fend off two match points in a three-hour quarter-final 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(6) epic to surpass Leylah Fernandez.

“It really feels like home, and you just want to come back every year,” stated the Australian Open champion shortly after lifting a 13th career trophy. “I’m super happy with the title and it’s nice to win the same tournament a second time.

“I think for now everything is working well and we just try to continue now for the big tournaments ahead, and hopefully I can get all the positives from this week to the next tournaments.”

Shelton bolsters ambitions with Munich move

Ben Shelton reminded the tour of his clay court credentials with a 6-2, 7-5 scoreline across the net from Flavio Cobolli in the Munich final.

12 months ago, the stars and stripes powerhouse lost the same final to Alexander Zverev, but rewrote the script in Germany with some dynamite strikes.

In doing so, Shelton is the first American to lift a title on clay above the ATP 250 level (Munich is an ATP 500 tournament) since Andre Agassi at the 2002 Rome Masters 1000.

“I am happy with my performance this week. I got better and better as the week went on and I am happy with the work me and the team put in,” said the world No.6.

“I have big ambitions for the clay courts. It is a surface I want to get better on each year. It is slowly becoming one of my favourite surfaces to play on.”

Shelton can head towards Roland-Garros with bolstered confidence. The 23-year-old advanced to the Last 16 last summer, where he pushed eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz across four sets on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Kostyuk thrives flying the flag

Marta Kostyuk and Veronika Podrez were the players to make history in Rouen, France, as the first Ukrainians to meet in a WTA final.

World No.23 Kostyuk took the top prize with a 6-3, 6-4 win to clinch a second career title.

"This match today was not just a match," said Kostyuk, three years following her maiden title in Texas, USA. "It was a historical moment for Ukrainian tennis. I know how much work, sacrifice, tears and sweat goes into this sport and to be able to be on this stage. So, I'm incredibly proud of Ukrainian tennis right now.

"We have five Top 100 players, and I hope that this match, and me and Veronika, will be able to inspire more kids to try the sport, to pick up a racket for the first time and truly enjoy the emotion and passion and everything that this sport brings."

Click here to read article