ATP Tour

Fils on latest return: 'Every time I come back, I know I will always play good tennis'

Arthur Fils is back from his latest injury setback, and just in time for Wimbledon.

The exuberant 22-year-old Frenchman arrives at the All England Club wearing his trademark smile after recovering from the hip injury that cut short an impressive spring and kept him out of his home major at Roland Garros. It was another frustrating interruption for one of the ATP Tour's brightest young stars.

Fils had only returned from an eight-month back injury in February before producing some of the best tennis of his career, capturing his fourth ATP Tour title in Barcelona and reaching ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals in both Miami and Madrid to surge to seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. Yet despite the setbacks, the 22-year-old's confidence has never wavered.

“Every time I come back, I know that I will always play good tennis,” Fils told ATPTour.com at the All England Club on Saturday. “So I know that I just need to come back on the court and then I will enjoy myself.”

Fils has already shown he can thrive on every surface. Armed with explosive power off both wings, electric movement and a willingness to attack, he owns three tour-level titles on clay and an ATP 500 crown on hard courts, won in Tokyo in 2024.

Although Fils’ grass-court resume is shorter, there is little doubt in Fils' mind that his dynamic game can translate to the lawns of SW19 — provided his body cooperates.

Half of his six tour-level wins on grass, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, came during his run to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2024, only his second appearance at The Championships. Fils’ athleticism, fearless shotmaking and comfort moving across the slick surface make grass a natural fit, and it is a challenge he clearly relishes.

“I really enjoy playing on grass. It’s very funny,” Fils said, cracking a big smile. “You can jump. You can slide. It’s very cool — I really enjoy it. Let’s see if I’m playing great this week. But for now, the practice has been pretty good.

“I’m playing great. The body feels good. The movement is good. So, it’s all good.”

Watch Arthur Fils: Tennis' New Showman

Fils' back injury first surfaced at Roland Garros last year, just a month after he had climbed to a career-high No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings and was pitted by many to be one of the leading contenders to eventually challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the men's game.

Underlining that potential last season in Monte-Carlo, Fils pushed Alcaraz to the limit in a gripping three-set quarter-final that was voted by fans as the ‘ATP Tour Match of the 2025 Season’.

Now making his third Wimbledon appearance, Fils opens against Belgian Raphael Collignon in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. With a victory, Fils would set up a second-round clash with 41-year-old wild card Stan Wawrinka, playing the final season of his career, or 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.

After another spell on the sidelines, Fils returns to Wimbledon with fresh motivation. But if history is any guide, he also arrives with the belief that whenever he steps back onto the court, his best tennis is never far away.