ROLAND GARROS

May 23, 2026

Arthur Fils

Press Conference

(In English.)

THE MODERATOR: Before we start the press conference, Arthur has an announcement to make.

ARTHUR FILS: Hello, guys. I hope everyone is good. Just quick, I have to say something quickly. I'm not going to be able to play here this year. It's a shame, of course. I'm very sorry about it. Yeah, that's it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Sorry to hear that, man. Could you explain the last few weeks since Rome, where the injury was and just why you cannot play?

ARTHUR FILS: Well, in Rome I felt a little bit like around the hip, you know, pain. Was bothering me a lot. I didn't want to take any risk in Rome. Then after, I did some exam. Everything were looking pretty fine, but still a lot of pain.

So I was not able to practice for the last two weeks. Actually, the practice today was my first-ever points since two weeks in Rome.

Yeah, you know, I will not be fit 100% to play the tournament, and I will not take any risk like I did last year. I don't want to be stupid, you know (smiling). So, yeah.

Q. A year ago we know that when you played that match that you had to pull out, and then you had many months of being unable to play. Have you been given any indication of what the problem is and what you can expect?

ARTHUR FILS: I can't expect anything, I can't explain anything, because even me, I don't know. You know, it's just pain, pain that bothering me. And when I step on the court, it just here. It's never going somewhere.

If it was the last tournament of my life, I will have played, but now that I have 10 more years, 15 more years, I cannot do every time the same mistake.

Q. You mentioned it's the hip area, but is it related to the injury from last year, the back, at all? Did the doctors tell you that the two are related in any way? And is the back fully healed?

ARTHUR FILS: For sure it's not the same as last year. It's not. Then after, I don't know if it's, like, the lower, lower back or if it's the hip or the psoas. I don't know. It's this area that bothering me since couple of weeks, but I can't say it now, because I don't even know myself. I don't know.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. I'm sorry for this withdrawal. Could you explain how you managed to make that decision? Was it a last-minute decision, or did you feel it coming?

ARTHUR FILS: I felt it coming. Then I did everything I could to be prepared to play this tournament. But then, if you don't practice, for two weeks I haven't practiced, even when one doesn't practice, one can always feel some pain. This is what I felt.

I thought about it, and I wondered, would I only play for one round or two rounds? Am I ready for everything? I know the answer. The answer is to aim for a deep run. I know I can do it, but I wouldn't be 100%. I'm not even at 50% of my normal shape right now, so I don't want to take any risk.

Q. This morning, when you played against Lehecka, we saw you hit some good balls. But the pain was always there, so you told yourself it was too much?

ARTHUR FILS: No, I couldn't hold my own for three hours in a row. If, after 20 minutes, I feel such pain, then it's unbearable. Then, as I said earlier, were it the last tournament in my life, I could take some painkillers, and then the show would go on. But if I hurt so much after 20 minutes and I play five sets, I would never hold my own.

That's why we discussed this with my team afterwards, and they said it's a pity, because you play well, but it's not possible for me. It's unbearable.

Q. After what happened to you last year, after all the efforts that you went through to be back on your game, what do you feel, tough luck? Or do you feel like you want to give up? What's your state of mind?

ARTHUR FILS: All is well. It's not the end of it. You know, I'm fine. It's just that I'm hurt. I'm trying to do the best job possible to play on grass. It's not a disaster.

Q. How about the pain during the match in Rome? Was it all of a sudden that it happened, or did you feel this pain throughout the matches before?

ARTHUR FILS: It was during the practice session in Rome. We tried to be prepared and up and ready for Rome. It wasn't the case. That's all I can say, unfortunately.