Arthur Fils missed most of the second half of the season after enjoying a real breakout on the ATP Tour.
Fils suffered a back injury at Roland Garros at the same time he managed to achieve a career-high ranking of World No. 14.
The Frenchman reached back-to-back Masters quarter-finals at Indian Wells and the Miami Open at the beginning of the year and teased breaking into the top 10 of the rankings.
Fils continued that form into his home Grand Slam at the Roland Garros by defeating Nicolas Jarry and Jaume Munar, but then his back issues forced him to withdraw from his match with Andrey Rublev.
The star has now admitted the mistake he and his team made with his injury at the French Grand Slam.
Arthur Fils regrets playing Roland Garros this year
Fils was aware of his back injury before the tournament, but decided to risk playing the tournament in front of his own fans.
That is now a decision that the Frenchman regrets as he played just one more tournament in the rest of 2025 at the Canadian Open.
Speaking to 20 Minutes, the Frenchman revealed: “The real question is: should I have played Roland Garros? It’s a bit different, because I knew I was already injured before arriving at Roland-Garros.
“I made the decision with the whole team, but I pushed quite hard to be able to play. Because I was in good form, I was ranked 13th or 14th in the world, I was playing quite well.
“So I really wanted to play. Even injured, I beat Jarry and Munar in a tough match. I proved things to myself. But with a bit more experience, I would make the decision not to play in the tournament.”
Fils has recently withdrawn from the exhibition event, World Tennis League, but he is expected to return to the sport in 2026.
What Arthur Fils will change after his back injury
Fils has suffered from back injuries for much of his career, but the star has confirmed he will change his style of play to appease his body.
In the same interview with 20 Minutes, the World No. 40 said: “We’re going to change a few things. The doctors have drawn up a plan with the physiotherapist, the physical trainer, and the tennis coach to try and reduce the impact on my back.
“There are a few small changes I can make. These are changes that will inevitably take time, because I’ve been playing the same way for 15 years.”
Fils will be looking to climb the rankings yet again when he returns in 2026, as well as try to add to his three career titles.
