Marseille Open: Fils vs Bonzi Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Marseille Open as Arthur Fils takes on Benjamin Bonzi in the semifinal on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

We have a fascinating matchup in store at the Marseille Open as French teenager Arthur Fils squares up against compatriot Benjamin Bonzi vying for a spot in Sunday’s final. Who will prevail?

Arthur Fils is a special talent. And on the basis of what we have seen of the youngster in Montpellier and now at the MArseille Open, he will certainly go places. Fils earned a massive win over three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka on Friday night, winning 6-3 6-2 in just over an hour. Fils’ dominance was largely due to his mammoth serve and a barrage of clean hitting from the baseline. He has now won five of his six matches on the ATP Tour. Can he reach Sunday’s final at the expense of countryman Benjamin Bonzi?

Benjamin Bonzi has been to an ATP final, pulling off that feat at the 250 event in Pune at the start of January. But in recent weeks, Bonzi’s results have not been encouraging. With four straight defeats coming to Marseille Open, the odds were stacked against him. But he has exceeded expectations, earning some high-quality wins over Maxime Cressy and Alex de Minaur to reach the last four.

Arthur Fils and Benjamin Bonzi have not played each other at any level. This will be their first career meeting on the ATP Tour. Fils has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the space of a few weeks. The fact that the two ATP tournaments he has played in coincided with them being played on home soil has certainly spurred him to produce his best tennis. Bonzi has fared decently too at the Marseille Open after a terrible run of form. This match will come down to very subtle details. The player that can hold their nerve at key moments will get through this because chances to break will be few and far between. We like Bonzi’s chances here not because he is the underdog, but the way in which he has managed to scour for solutions in tight matches this week.