Promising French youngster Arthur Fils has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to chronic back problems that have effectively kept him out of competitive tennis since the French Open last year.
This marks the second major withdrawal from the first Slam of the season, with Fils following Jack Draper, who announced last week that he will not travel to Melbourne Park in 2026.
Career-Best Form Halted by Injury Setback
Known for his aggressive shot-making and powerful baseline game, Arthur Fils was arguably playing the best tennis of his young career in the months leading up to Roland Garros. That momentum came to a halt in Paris, where he suffered a severe back injury during a five-set thriller against Jaume Munar — a match the Frenchman remarkably managed to win despite the physical toll.
Fils’ rise began in the second half of 2024, when he captured titles at both the ATP Hamburg Open and the ATP Tokyo Open, defeating top players such as Holger Rune, Taylor Fritz, and Alexander Zverev along the way. He carried that form into early 2025, reaching the quarterfinals at each of the first three Masters 1000 events of the season, as well as the semifinals in Barcelona.
Those results propelled him inside the world’s top 15, and just as everything appeared to be clicking for the charismatic youngster, disaster struck again on home soil. A recurrence of his back issue, a problem he has battled for much of his career, forced him back to the sidelines and stalled his ascent.
Fils Remains Optimistic Despite Australian Open Withdrawal
Announcing his withdrawal on his YouTube channel, the current world No. 41 struck a calm and optimistic tone, emphasizing patience and long-term goals:
“Being injured is part of the life of a high-level athlete. It takes the time it takes — it’s not that serious. I’m 21 years old, I still have 10 to 15 years of career ahead of me, it’s not a race. With the work and resources I’m putting in now, I can win Grand Slam tournaments. I’ve always said I want to be world No. 1 and win Grand Slams, and right now we’re doing good work toward that. I feel good, my back is improving well. It’s a lot of work to get back to the highest level. I’ll be a bit short for Australia, so I prefer to return at 100%.”
Despite the latest setback, Fils’ spirits remain high, and the tennis world continues to wait patiently for the return of one of the tour’s most exciting young talents.
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports