Arthur Fils, Luca Van Assche recreate two-year-old milestone at Next Gen ATP Finals 2023

(Courtesy : Twitter/OptaJean)
Same-country players face off for the second time
In an unprecedented turn of events at the Next Gen ATP Finals 2023, we are set to witness a duel that has only occurred once before. For only the second time in the tournament’s history, two players from the same country will face each other in the semi-finals and beyond.
This year, it’s the French duo, Arthur Fils and Luca Van Assche, who are set to make history. The last time such a scenario unfolded was in 2021 when American players Brandon Nakashima and Sebastian Korda squared off.
Arthur Fils has been the talk of the tournament, winning all three of his group stage matches. His first match against Luca Nardi was a nail-biter, going into a 5-set thriller. However, he made quick work of his next opponent, Italian Flavio Cobolli, with a scoreline of 4-1, 4-2, 4-2. His last group stage match against Dominic Stricker was a tough one, but Fils emerged victorious with a score of 4-2, 3-4, 4-2, 4-3.
On the other hand, Luca Van Assche had a close call in his final group stage match against Alex Michelsen. Despite this, he managed to secure his spot in the last four of the Next Gen ATP Finals with 2 wins out of 3 matches.
The first match which involved such a propositon was between two American players, Brandon Nakashima and Sebastian Korda.
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In an enthralling match that extended to the limit, Sebastian Korda emerged victorious over Brandon Nakashima with a scoreline of 4-3, 2-4, 1-4, 4-2, 4-2. This gripping encounter highlighted the depth of talent in American tennis and set the stage for Korda’s anticipated face-off with Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
However, it was Carlos Alcaraz who ultimately claimed the title, defeating Korda with a score of 4–3 (7–5), 4–2, 4–2. This victory marked the second consecutive occasion that the youngest player in the draw secured the title.
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Ajay Gandhar has been part of Khel Now since 2023 and has expertise across a wide range of Olympic sports. While his coverage spans the Olympic spectrum, he is passionate about Badminton, Tennis, Football, and Track and Field. Beyond his primary focus areas, Ajay is also an avid kabaddi enthusiast and closely follows the sport.
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