Arthur Fils can't catch a break at Roland Garros, withdraws ahead of Stan Wawrinka opener

PARIS—The men’s field at Roland Garros took another notable hit Saturday when Arthur Fils withdrew ahead of his blockbuster opener with 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka.

The announcement from the French Tennis Federation simply listed “an injury” for the No. 17 seed's reason. Fils had previously retired four games into his Rome opener with Andrea Pellegrino due to a hip issue, but had posted an encouraging message following that setback.

"Felt something during the match in Rome," he wrote on X. "I ran all the tests with the team and everything is clear. Already back to work for Paris. Thanks for the messages.”

It’s the second year running an injury has impacted the Frenchman at his home major. A year ago, Fils valiantly fought through his second-round clash with Jaume Munar, but incurred a stress fracture in his back that would later sideline him for eight months.

The 21-year-old made a statement return this year after missing the Australian Open, reaching the Doha final and Miami semifinals. He then triumphed in Barcelona on his way to winning his first nine matches on clay, culminating with a final-four run in Madrid.

Fils joins defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, 2025 semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti and 2025 Madrid finalist Jack Draper among the men’s players missing in action from the season’s second major. Wawrinka is now slated to begin his final French Open appearance against lucky loser Jesper de Jong.