Arthur Fils will not play in the Australian Open due to his back injury: "It's still too early"

Carlos Navarro | 2 Jan 2026 | 19.46

Son confesses hell for back injury. Source: Getty

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The soap opera is over. Arthur Fils will not be part of the upcoming 2026 Australian Open, another significant absence following Jack Draper's withdrawal. Two major blows for tennis fans within a week: both the Frenchman and the Brit were players the public was eager to see back on the court, battling physical issues and missing from the circuit for the past months... but Fils' return, too, won't happen in January.

The first signs appeared moments ago when it was noticed that the French tennis player was withdrawing from the Hong Kong tournament, which was supposed to mark his return to the circuit following a brief appearance at the Masters 1000 in Canada. However, later on the same day, he decided to address the situation, releasing a documentary video on his new Youtube channel explaining in detail the decision-making processes in recent months, the origin and details of his current back injury... and revealing, of course, the most critical news: he will not compete in the 2026 Australian Open, leaving his comeback in limbo.

"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. 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 the return in Australia. I'd rather come back at 100% than do it too soon," calmly stated Fils, shedding a positive light on his current situation. His words and demeanor reflect an Arthur who trusts the process undertaken... but believes that a Melbourne comeback was still premature.

"I feel good. My back is improving, I had the best MRI scan in the last six months, so honestly, there has been progress. We're training well, pushing the limits in practice. People don't know the extent of work behind such a return, all the hours on the court and in the gym to come back in top form. To achieve that, and return healthily, I need to go through this. It's a long process, but I must. The hardest part of this rehab is that patience is crucial. It's not flashy; there are no shortcuts; it's daily grind, continuous effort. What has changed is the quality of our work, 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," said the Frenchman, signaling a key improvement in his work methodology to face 2026.

Fils reveals where the source of his injury lies and indicates a vital change for improvement this season

Everything fell apart at the last Roland Garros after that epic match against Jaume Munar, but in this short documentary, the Frenchman has disclosed when he started feeling back discomfort and how he kept dragging it through several events until it finally blew up in Paris. "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 was unable to do it due to the pain I had. 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 performed well there, coming in good form... I didn't want to stop," stated Arthur while his father supported him, emphasizing his competitive nature and his eagerness. It was a decision that, clearly, ended up being truly costly.

"The doctor told me that the injury shouldn't worsen. We made a little pact: he told me that if I reached a point where I needed to take anti-inflammatories, I had to stop. In my first match against Jarry, I started feeling slight discomfort in my back. Against Munar, however, it was dreadful. It hurt a lot. I couldn't take it anymore, so I took a pill. I knew I wouldn't be able to play the next set... but I had to win, so I pushed through, with bravery and courage," calmly commented the Frenchman.

From then on, the news went from bad to worse: the back injury worsened beyond the initial prognosis, and his return at the Canada event was unsatisfactory. His team realized Arthur's body was in a very poor state, deciding to end the season there, exploring different paths to restore his back to good health. All of this entailed visits to various doctors, extensive physical work and kinesiology, and a lot of patience... along with significant changes in physical preparation and a renewed attitude and philosophy where rash decisions are not part of the equation.

"I'm not truly worried, as injuries are part of athletes' lives. I'll take the time needed: I'm 21, I still have around 10 to 15 years of career ahead, 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. It's a detailed plan with everything I need to eat and when to eat it." The goal? To reduce my weight and lower the body fat percentage, ultimately leading to better physical fitness, less stress on the body and, thus, reduce the likelihood of back injuries.

"Everything is regulated now. I've lost a lot of weight. I'm also working with chefs, people who know about cooking, adding many new voices to grow my project. I think I'm on the right path now, so I must continue along it." Hence, the goals for this 2026, despite this initial setback, are clear: to achieve the objectives Arthur has always believed in. "I know I can do better than I have already done. With all the effort I'm putting in, I know I can win big tournaments, better than the ATP 500s I've already claimed. My goal is to go all the way in all tournaments; I know I can, and now I must prove it to myself. I always said I want to be the world number one and win Grand Slams: now, after what I've experienced, there's a greater meaning behind that statement." A warning in the midst of the storm. We await you, Arthur.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Arthur Fils no jugará el Open de Australia por su lesión de espalda: "Todavía es demasiado pronto"