French tennis player Arthur Fils withdrew from the 2026 French Open on Saturday, May 23, because of a hip injury [1].
Fils was one of the few remaining top French contenders for the tournament. His absence removes a significant home-crowd favorite from the draw at Roland Garros, altering the competitive landscape for the tournament's early stages [3].
The athlete announced his decision on May 23, 2026 [1]. While some reports initially listed the injury as unspecified, other sources confirmed the player suffered from hip pain [1, 2].
Fils currently holds a world ranking of No. 19 [3]. The decision to pull out came just one day before the tournament was scheduled to begin, leaving the player unable to compete in Paris [3].
"I just couldn't take any risks before Roland Garros," Fils said [4].
The withdrawal follows a period of physical struggle for the player. Although some early reports suggested his participation remained uncertain, official updates confirmed he would not enter the competition [1, 4].
Roland Garros remains the premier clay-court event of the year. For a French player ranked in the top 20, the tournament represents the most critical opportunity to secure a deep run in front of a home audience [3].
“"I just couldn't take any risks before Roland Garros"”
The loss of Arthur Fils is a significant blow to French hopes at Roland Garros, as the tournament often relies on local stars to drive engagement and momentum. With a world ranking of 19, Fils was a seeded threat who could have disrupted the brackets for higher-ranked international players. His withdrawal underscores the physical toll of the professional tour and the high stakes of injury management leading into a Grand Slam.
