Arthur Fils has withdrawn from Roland Garros, a major blow for French hopes before the main draw begins in Paris. The 21-year-old Frenchman, ranked No. 19 in the world, pulled out Saturday because of a lingering hip injury that has not healed in time for his home Grand Slam. Fils had been scheduled to face 2015 Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka in the first round, but Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong will take his place in the draw.
Fils said the injury began during the Rome Masters earlier this month, where he retired early in his second-round match against Andrea Pellegrino. He later underwent medical exams, which did not show a major structural problem, but the pain continued and prevented him from preparing properly for Roland Garros.
“I’m not going to be able to play here this year. It’s a shame,” Fils told reporters in Paris. He added that he had not been able to practice normally for two weeks and was not close to full fitness.
The withdrawal is especially painful because Fils had entered the clay season as one of France’s strongest hopes in years. He won the Barcelona Open in April, reached the semifinals in Madrid, and had compiled a 22-7 record this season, according to the ATP.
His aggressive baseline game, athletic movement and recent surge had made him one of the players to watch in Paris, where France is still waiting for its first men’s singles champion since Yannick Noah won the title in 1983. Reuters noted that Fils had positioned himself as a genuine contender after his Barcelona title and Madrid run before the hip issue interrupted his momentum.
Fils also made clear that last year’s injury experience shaped his decision. In 2025, he withdrew from Roland Garros after the second round because of a stress fracture in his lower back, an injury that disrupted much of the rest of his season. This time, he said he did not want to repeat the mistake of pushing through pain too early.
The loss removes one of the most compelling home storylines from the men’s draw. Fils had been carrying the label of French No. 1 into Roland Garros and appeared ready for a deep run after returning strongly from last season’s back problems.
For Roland Garros, it means another setback for the host nation before the tournament has fully begun. For Fils, the decision is about the longer view: protecting a career that still appears to be rising, even if Paris will have to wait another year.
