PARIS — Arthur Fils, the highest-ranked French player currently at No. 19, has officially withdrawn from the French Open on Saturday due to a hip injury.
Fils had previously retired in the first set during his debut match at the Italian Open, his last preparation for Roland Garros.
The 21-year-old expressed that his hip “was causing significant discomfort,” and while medical tests showed no serious issues, he continued to experience “a lot of pain.”
“I was unable to train for the past two weeks. Today was actually my first time hitting points since my last session in Rome two weeks ago,” Fils explained. “I’m not at 100% fitness for the tournament, and I won’t take unnecessary risks like I did last year. I don’t want to make a foolish decision.”
Last year, Fils had to exit the French Open following the second round due to a stress fracture in his lower back.
His recent performances had sparked excitement among home fans, hoping he could become the first Frenchman to clinch the Roland Garros title since Yannick Noah in 1983.
After missing the latter half of last year due to his back issue, Fils has bounced back remarkably, holding a record of 22-7 this year with impressive runs in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid, alongside securing a clay-court title in Barcelona.
He was set to face veteran Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 champion, in his first match; however, with Fils’ withdrawal, Wawrinka will now compete against a qualifier instead.
The tournament action in Paris kicks off on Sunday.
