Roland-Garros blow as French No. 1 Arthur Fils pulls out before first round

Arthur Fils has withdrawn from Roland-Garros 2026, confirming on Saturday that a persistent hip injury will prevent him from competing at his home Grand Slam. The French No. 1 and world No. 19 had been scheduled to begin his campaign against Stan Wawrinka but pulled out after failing to recover sufficiently.

The decision was announced during a press conference at the tournament, where Fils outlined a disrupted preparation period and ongoing physical discomfort. The withdrawal removes one of France’s main contenders from the men’s draw and reshapes expectations for the host nation in the singles competition.

Fils arrived in Paris carrying momentum from a strong early-season run, including a title in Barcelona and deep runs at Masters 1000 level in Miami and Madrid. However, that form was disrupted by recurring hip pain first identified in Rome.

Despite attempts to return to training in Paris, including a limited session on Philippe-Chatrier, Fils concluded that he was not physically prepared for the demands of a best-of-five-set format at Roland-Garros.

Fils explained that the decision followed a difficult recovery phase in which he was unable to train consistently for around two weeks. His first meaningful return to court came only shortly before the tournament, but he reported immediate discomfort when increasing intensity. That lack of continuity proved decisive in his final assessment.

Medical checks did not reveal a serious structural issue, but the player stressed that pain persisted under load. He linked the decision to previous injury experiences, prioritising long-term physical health over short-term participation in Paris.

“I won’t be able to play here this year. It’s a shame, I’m sorry. In Rome I felt discomfort in my hip and I didn’t want to take risks. Then I had tests done and everything was fine, but I was still in pain and I couldn’t train.”

The withdrawal follows his mid-match retirement in Rome against Andrea Pellegrino, where he was trailing before stopping play. Combined with limited training exposure in Paris, that episode raised uncertainty over his physical readiness for Roland-Garros.

Fils also highlighted the specific demands of Grand Slam competition, particularly the need to sustain performance over potentially five sets. That factor played a central role in his risk assessment.

Beyond the immediate injury concern, Fils framed the decision as part of broader career management. Ranked No. 19 in the world - also No. 5 in the 2026 ATP Race - and regarded as France’s leading male player, he emphasised that long-term development outweighed the urgency of competing while compromised.

His season had included strong results such as the Barcelona title and deep runs in Doha, Miami and Madrid. However, the disrupted preparation ahead of Roland-Garros marked a clear break in momentum, especially after the back stress fracture he suffered at the 2025 edition of the tournament.

Fils also addressed the psychological aspect of returning too early, noting that previous injury experiences shaped his current decision-making. He indicated that even if he could compete, the risk of aggravation outweighed potential gains on clay.

“I did everything possible to play. But if you haven’t trained for two weeks and you feel pain when you start again, it’s simple. You start thinking: do you want to go deep or just play two rounds?”

He added that the decision was agreed with his team and described the situation as unfortunate but manageable in the context of the season. Fils stated he aims to return for the grass-court swing, suggesting the injury is not expected to require a long absence.

“I know what I want. Right now I’m not sure I’m at 50%. I can’t last three hours or five sets if I’m in pain after twenty minutes… five sets will never work, we discussed it with the team. We agreed it’s a shame, but it’s not the end of the world. It’s fine, no problem. I’ll try to be ready for grass. It’s not a disaster.”