Many followers wouldn’t have heard of Arthur Fils 12 months in the past. Right now the 19-year-old Frenchman is considered one of many sports activities’ most promising skills and he has capped his breakthrough 12 months in type, being named the Newcomer of the Yr within the 2023 ATP Awards.

“I’m actually completely satisfied to win the ATP Newcomer of the Yr,” mentioned Fils. “It’s been a tremendous 12 months for me with lots of good reminiscences. I hope subsequent 12 months goes to be higher, however thanks for the assist all around the globe.”

Fils began the season exterior the Prime 250 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings however peaked at a career-high No. 36 in October after reaching the ultimate in Antwerp. The Frenchman’s standout spotlight got here on house soil in Lyon in Might, when he received his first tour-level title. He was the youngest champion on the ATP Tour in 2023.

Fils’ breakthrough season began from day one. He received his first 9 matches of the 12 months on the ATP Challenger Tour, together with a title run in Oeiras. In February, he made probably the most of alternatives to play at house, reaching the tour-level semi-finals in Montpellier and Marseille.

He completed the season as strongly as he began, reaching the title match on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by NEOM within the first ATP-sanctioned occasion in Saudi Arabia.

“It was a pleasant 12 months for positive. I began at 250 however completed at 36, in order that’s fairly good,” Fils mentioned. “It nonetheless may have been higher. I misplaced some shut matches, nevertheless it’s simply expertise and I’ll attempt to do higher subsequent 12 months.”

Fils fended off competitors from fellow nominees Flavio Cobolli, Alex Michelsen, Dominic Stricker and Luca Van Assche to win the Award. The 19-year-old joins Holger Rune, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as latest Newcomer of the Yr winners.

Chosen by gamers, the award goes to the #NextGenATP participant who entered the Prime 100 for the primary time and made the most important affect on the ATP Tour through the season.