Arthur Fils will not be playing in the 2026 French Open. The French number one announced his withdrawal from the Parisian Grand Slam on Saturday, May 23, the day before the tournament was due to begin. The 21-year-old, ranked 19th in the world, was considered one of France's main hopes for this year's tournament.
A hip that doesn't respond
The reason for this withdrawal is physical: Arthur Fils has a hip injury. At the beginning of May, he was already forced to retire from the Rome Masters 1000 against Andrea Pellegrino after only four games. This scare immediately raised questions about his ability to compete in Paris.
A highly anticipated first round against Wawrinka
The Frenchman was scheduled to begin his tournament on Monday against Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 French Open champion. This duel between the rising star of French tennis and the former Swiss champion was expected to be one of the highlights of the first round. His withdrawal therefore deprives the men's draw of a highly anticipated opening match.
A preparation shrouded in uncertainty
After his withdrawal in Rome, Arthur Fils tried to reassure everyone on social media. But his prolonged absence from the official Roland-Garros practice courts fueled the doubts. He was only seen training again on Friday, during a low-key session at Jean-Bouin.
A promising season nonetheless
Arthur Fils made a remarkable comeback after a long period hampered by a back injury sustained at Roland-Garros 2025. Since his return in February, he had notably won the Barcelona tournament, reached the final in Doha, and competed in the semifinals of the Miami and Madrid Masters 1000 events. These results made him a credible contender in Paris.
With Arthur Fils' withdrawal, French tennis loses its main male asset even before the start of the tournament. The withdrawal is all the more frustrating as it comes just when the player seemed to have reached a new level on the circuit…
