Arthur Fils has withdrawn from Roland Garros on the eve of the tournament.
In truly heartbreaking fashion, the 21-year-old has been forced to confirm his planned absence at his home tournament, once again hampered by injury.
Over the last 12 months, Arthur Fils has suffered more than most, missing the bulk of the 2025 season, and only recently returning to the ATP Tour full-time.
It seems like his eagerness to return has now backfired, and at the worst possible time.
He took to his press conference to explain why he will miss Roland Garros.
Arthur Fils explains why he has withdrawn from Roland Garros
Fils unsurprisingly cut an emotional figure as he explained his decision.
After all, this cannot have been an easy one to make.
Was Arthur Fils the best hope of anyone beating Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros this year? 😢
He told reporters: “It’s a shame, of course, I’m very sorry about it.”
However, he also insisted that the injury is not the same as last year’s, but he has learnt his lesson about pushing through such pain.
Fils was forced to retire from the Italian Open earlier this month, and following that, many feared for his fitness.
Keen to ensure he doesn’t aggravate the issue further, Fils has had to pull out. He also admitted that he’s unsure whether it is his hip or lower back that is playing up this time, lacking information, but aware of the pain.
He also said: “I will not be fit 100% to play the tournament, and I will not take any risk like I did last year.
“If it was the last tournament of my life, I will have played, but now that I have 10 more years, 15 more years, I cannot do every time the same mistake.”
Fils was actually due to practice with Gael Monfils today, but that will now no longer be possible either.
Arthur Fils’ heartbreaking smart decision
As Fils touched upon, this is a smart decision.
However, it’s heartbreaking to see one of the in-form clay-court players removed from contention, as there was genuine belief that this Frenchman could have thrived in his home country.
Alas, with how he pushed through the pain last year and completely ruined his entire season, this was a move he had to make.
His absence will be felt heavily at Roland Garros, but hopefully this is a temporary sacrifice to allow greater fitness in the long term.
He will be back, and he will surely challenge for this title one day. Sadly, it will not be this year though.
