Tennis has been blessed with the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, coincidentally bursting onto the scene just as the Big Three’s influence began to wane.
As such, there was no power vacuum during the passing of the torch. Instead, they have just picked up where their predecessors’ dominance wore off.
We are witnessing history with these two superstars, but already some are questioning who might soon challenge them and break up the monotonous cycle of all the Grand Slam titles being shared by just the two of them.
There’s reason to believe that Arthur Fils can be that man, having finally seemingly put his injury woes behind him.
Arthur Fils hires Goran Ivanišević as new coach
Doha marks just the third tournament that the Frenchman has played in 2026, having only just really returned from a back injury that crippled his last year on tour.
And, having now reached the quarter-finals of both events, it’s clear that he remains fiercely competitive even if he is far from his physical best.
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What will boost his chances of soon challenging Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner even more is the fact that Fils has just hired Goran Ivanišević as his new coach, enlisting the former Wimbledon champion, who enjoyed spells alongside Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic, to help him take to the next level.
A proven winner at both the player and coaching level, this could be the spark that, alongside his renewed fitness, helps propel him back up the world rankings.
Arthur Fils has been through tough times
That aforementioned injury was a tough one for Fils, coming just as he seemed ready to ascend to the level needed to challenge Alcaraz and Sinner.
However, having made the wise decision to shut down his 2025 season, the hope is that he will be refreshed and ready to make a new charge this year.
Since playing in Montpellier earlier this month, the 21-year-old had played just two singles tour-level matches since aggravating his issue in the second round of the French Open.
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Spending so much time away from the sport will have certainly forged a strong mental fortitude, and could make him hungrier than ever.
Alexander Zverev backed Arthur Fils to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
People are well aware of the quality Fils boasts too, with Alexander Zverev specifically naming him as the man to challenge Alcaraz and Sinner in the near future.
After all, in 2024, the German admitted: “He undoubtedly has the game [to reach the Top 10].
“He has incredible power, like very few players have. Maybe Sinner, Alcaraz, me when I play well. Otherwise I don’t see who else has such power.
“It’s a question of development, of exploiting his potential. I think he can even be better than the top 10.”
With an aggressive, physical play style that is aided by his 6ft2 frame, he has quality and power in abundance.
If Fils can stay fit for the rest of 2026, he could cause some serious damage on the tour, and maybe unsettle the ATP Tour’s duopoly.
