Filho downplays drama over his injury: "I still have fifteen years of career ahead"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 12 Jan 2026 | 22.00

Fils downplays the drama of his injury: "I still have fifteen years of career ahead." Photo: Gettyimages

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The back, the great rival of Arthur Fils. In the midst of the clay court tour, in front of his fans at Roland Garros and after an epic five-set match against Jaume Munar, considered by many as one of the highlights of his career, but for the Frenchman, it was the beginning of a nightmare that seems endless.

The heavy load of matches took a toll on Arthur Fils, to the extent that he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back, which sidelined him for a couple of months. When he decided to return to the circuit at the Masters 1000 in Canada, his body was still not ready, leading him to put an end to the season at that point.

Fils and his fans had their sights set on the start of 2026 as the ideal moment to reset and regain sensations, becoming that aggressive and dangerous player once more. However, he withdrew from the ATP in Hong Kong first and two days later announced his withdrawal from the Open in Australia.

Despite the situation, rather than being worried or sad, what the Frenchman exhibits is a sense of calm and patience, at least according to an interview with GQ Magazine where he also reveals the addition of new members to his team and the daily routine he has maintained since his injury in June.

Arthur Fils takes it slow and opts for patience in his final stage of recovery

"Having to end the season so early didn't frustrate me much. As a professional tennis player, injuries are part of the job. You often push your body to exhaustion, so sometimes it breaks down. It's something I've understood from a young age. Then time inevitably seems to fly by. Six months on the circuit fly by. It's different, but honestly, I don't think it has been very hard to manage mentally. I have fifteen more years of career ahead of me, so if I miss a month or two, it's not the end of the world."

Happy with his physical condition and mental health

"I am in very good shape, both mentally and physically. It has been already 5 or 6 months since I played. I have made quite a few changes in my team, especially adding medical and treatment staff, but I have also significantly modified my nutrition. Lately, I have been undergoing a lot of rehabilitation and physical training."

"After Roland Garros, I spent a month and a half doing a lot of physical preparation, especially core work. It is now part of my daily routine to protect my back. I tried to return to Toronto in August, probably too soon, and then we decided to stop there and not finish the season. Originally, I was eager to play in Paris at the end of the year, but the timing wasn't right. My team convinced me that I needed to be patient and not rush. I presumably have many years left on the circuit."

No set return date to the courts

"Frankly, I am not in a hurry at all. As I said, I have to be very patient. It's okay not to play in Australia; I will try to play in Indian Wells or Miami. I don't have a planned return date; we'll see how things go. That's how it is," concludes Arthur Fils, who prefers to take his recovery calmly and with a long-term perspective.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fils rebaja el dramatismo por su lesión: "Todavía tengo quince años de carrera por delante"