“I’d rather come back at 100%”: Arthur Fils confirms Australian Open withdrawal in first YouTube video

French player Arthur Fils surprised everyone this Friday with unfortunate news: he will not be competing at the Australian Open due to a back injury that continues to trouble him. The current world No. 39 has been dealing with this issue since the 2025 French Open, when he withdrew at the end of May before his third-round match against Andrey Rublev.

The 22-year-old player chose a particular way to announce his withdrawal: through the first video on his newly launched YouTube channel. The Frenchman follows the steps of other players who have opened YouTube channels, such as Aryna Sabalenka, Daria Kasatkina, Jannik Sinner, Federico Coria, or more recently Ben Shelton, just a few weeks ago.

Fils’ first video was specifically used to announce that he will not be at the Australian Open. “We’ve made the decision, my team and I, to not participate in the Australian Open. I know many of you were expecting my return to Australia, but it’s too soon,” said the former world No. 14. “There have been many improvements in my recovery; my back has never been healthier. I feel good and we’re working hard, but I fell slightly short for a return in Australia. I’d rather come back at 100% than do it too soon.”

Since his withdrawal at Roland Garros, his return to competition was expected several times, but he has only been able to play one tournament in the last eight months, at the Canadian Open. On that occasion, he defeated Pablo Carreño Busta in the first round before losing in the second round to Jiri Lehecka in three sets, which became his most recent appearance.

One week later, Fils withdrew from the Cincinnati Open and announced that he would also not be available for the US Open. “I feel good. My back is improving. I had the best MRI scan in the last six months, so honestly, there has been progress,” the 21-year-old stated. “We’re training well, pushing the limits in practice. People don’t know the amount of work behind a return like this — all the hours on court and in the gym to come back in top form. To achieve that and return healthy, I need to go through this.”

“It’s a long process, but I have to do it. The hardest part of this rehab is that patience is crucial. It’s not flashy, there are no shortcuts — it’s daily work, continuous effort. What has changed is the quality of our work and the attention to detail. Coming back too soon is easy, but to come back strong, I need more time. Now I know where I’m heading.”

The particular way in which Fils announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open is part of his new YouTube channel project, where he hopes to show behind-the-scenes aspects of how his career develops. This time, he used the video to give a detailed explanation of his injury.

The injury, according to Fils, began earlier in the season and worsened around Roland Garros, which he ultimately decided to play despite the pain. “I got injured in Miami, against Zverev, and felt back pain since then. In Rome, again against Zverev, I felt a really sharp pain. The worst part was packing my bag — I couldn’t do it because of the pain,” Fils added. “Later, the doctor told me the truth: I had a stress fracture in the lower part of my back and asked if I wanted to play Roland Garros. I decided to play. I told myself: ‘It’s Roland Garros.’ I had been playing well there and came in good form… I didn’t want to stop.”

Fils explained that his father supported his decision, highlighting his competitive mindset and eagerness to compete — a choice that ultimately proved to be very costly. “I’m not truly worried, because injuries are part of an athlete’s life. I’ll take the time I need. I’m 21, I still have around 10 to 15 years of career ahead of me — this is not a sprint.”

“I’m much more cautious medically now. I’ve started working with a nutritionist who is with me 24/7 and has prepared a specific plan for each day of the week — what I need to eat and when to eat it.”