Arthur Fils' impressive Madrid Open campaign came to an end at the hands of world-class opponent Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. The Italian star secured his place in the final with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory, bringing a close to what had been a remarkable stretch for the young Frenchman.

Just months after returning from a back injury, Fils has been on a tear. He captured the title in Barcelona and reached the semifinals in both Miami and Madrid—a run that has turned heads across the tennis world. Much of that momentum can be traced to a key addition to his team: coaching legend Goran Ivanisevic.

Since bringing the Croatian great on board earlier this year, Fils has looked noticeably sharper on court. And despite falling short against Sinner, the 19-year-old was full of praise for his new mentor.

"We are doing a great job," Fils said after the match. "Goran is helping me a lot with his experience. Of course, I did a hell of a job with Ivan as well over the past two years, and they are close friends, so it's pretty easy to work with both of them."

The partnership, which officially began in Doha, has evolved quickly. "Since Goran arrived, I have another way to see things. In Barcelona and now in Madrid, we did a hell of a job, and I'm very happy with that. I hope we keep going like this because it's pretty good."

When asked what he's learned about himself during this stretch, Fils didn't hesitate. "I'm a quick learner," he said with a smile. "In Miami, I said I was wasting too much energy on the court. Then I came back in Barcelona and Madrid completely different. Quick learner."

Currently sitting at No. 17 in the live ATP rankings, Fils has a golden opportunity ahead. With only 200 points to defend over the Italian Open and Roland Garros, a strong run in Rome could secure him a top-16 seed at the French Open—a milestone that would set him up beautifully for the clay-court season's grand finale.