New Top-10 player forced to play Tokyo qualifying for unusual reason

Saturday, 26 September 2026 at 01:00

Arthur Fils holds the Cincinnati Open trophy - his first Masters 1000 title.

Arthur Fils will make his debut in the ATP Top 10 this Monday but will have to begin his Japan Open campaign in qualifying, creating a rather unusual situation for the Frenchman. Despite being one of the highest-ranked players in the Tokyo field and a former champion at the tournament, Fils will have to fight through the qualifying rounds to secure a place in the main draw.

As mentioned several weeks ago, the French No.1 will indeed compete in the qualifying rounds of the ATP 500 in Tokyo. Due to an administrative error during registration, the tournament announced that the Bondoufle native will have to go through qualifying, which begins on September 28.

The situation is particularly surprising given Fils' new ranking status. The Frenchman is about to enter the Top 10 for the first time, yet instead of being directly placed into the main draw, he will have to compete in qualifying against players ranked significantly below him.

Many expected the world No. 11 to receive a wild card, especially because he won the tournament in Japan in 2024. However, that will not happen after all, with the three available invitations awarded to Kei Nishikori, Sho Shimabukuro and Rei Sakamoto.

Arthur Fils — Japan Open 2024 run

Round	Opponent	Opp. ranking	Score
R32	Taylor Fritz (USA)	7	6–4, 3–6, 6–3
R16	Matteo Berrettini (ITA)	45	6–7(5), 0–0 RET
Quarter-final	Ben Shelton (USA)	17	7–5, 6–7(5), 7–6(2)
Semi-final	Holger Rune (DEN)	14	7–6(8), 7–6(10)
Final	Ugo Humbert (FRA)	18	5–7, 7–6(6), 6–3

Fils could have been third seed in Tokyo

In sporting terms, Fils could have been the third seed in Tokyo. Following the withdrawal of Ben Shelton, ranked No. 4 in the world, the main seeds remaining in the tournament are defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, ranked No. 3, and recent US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe, ranked No. 8.

That leaves Fils as the third-highest-ranked player in the Tokyo field, yet he will still have to go through qualifying to secure his place in the main draw.

WHAT IT MEANS 🏆

Arthur Fils is your champion in Tokyo 👊@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/nPfmgRugAo
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

The Frenchman won the Japan Open in 2024, making his current situation even more unusual. Rather than returning to defend his title as one of the tournament's leading players, he will first have to navigate the qualifying rounds before he can even enter the main draw.

The Tokyo field also features other notable names, including Taylor Fritz, Rafael Jodar and Tommy Paul. The tournament will also mark the return of former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori, who received one of the wild cards alongside Sho Shimabukuro and Rei Sakamoto.

For Fils, the tournament will therefore begin with an unexpected challenge. Just as he prepares to enter the Top 10 for the first time in his career, the Frenchman must first earn his place in a main draw where, on paper, he would have been one of the leading seeds.

Arthur Fils returns after another Grand Slam disappointment

Fils is preparing for what will be his first tournament since his early US Open exit. He arrived in New York as one of the players expected to go deep, especially after winning the Cincinnati Open one week earlier to claim his first Masters 1000 title. However, he suffered a disappointing first-round defeat.

The Frenchman faced a difficult draw against former world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, with the Greek producing an inspired comeback after dropping the opening set to win 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4. Tsitsipas eventually advanced to the fourth round, where he lost to eventual runner-up Ben Shelton.

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For Fils, it was another disappointment at a Grand Slam during an otherwise outstanding year. He won his first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati and has reached two other Masters 1000 semifinals. However, he has managed just one Grand Slam victory this season after missing the Australian Open and French Open through injury and then falling in the second round at Wimbledon.

Despite now establishing himself inside the Top 10 and as one of the biggest names on Tour, Fils has yet to translate that level to the Grand Slam stage. It remains his biggest task heading into 2027.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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