Arthur Fils has enjoyed an extraordinary year, and it feels like vindication after the fitness turmoil he’s been forced to deal with thus far in his young career.
A persistent back injury that started last year halted his rapid progression and saw him miss the bulk of 2025.
It was this huge setback, and therefore how far he has come from that devastation, which made his maiden Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati that much sweeter.
And, the Frenchman is due to get another deserved reward for all his hard work throughout this campaign, as he closes in on ATP Finals qualification.
Speaking after his first win in Brussels, which strangely secured his spot in the semi-finals, Arthur Fils has now discussed the prospect of playing in this prestigious end-of-year event for the very first time.
Arthur Fils discusses potentially qualifying for the ATP Finals this year
Chatting with the press, he did not hide his excitement as he draws ever closer to qualification.
“It would be a lie to say that it doesn’t run in my head at all,” he began. “After that, I try to see it a little differently. It’s still quite positive, the fact that I’m in this race.
“I would never have imagined that at the beginning of the year, when I was forty [in the world], going to the Finals at the end of the year, it rarely happens, I think, anyway.”
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Fils then admitted that, despite the nervousness he feels around securing qualification, he remains very excited and confident that it will only boost his career in the long run.
He continued: ”There’s a bit of tension, but it’s quite funny; it feels good. Even for my career, for my future, it will be situations that I will relive. So it’s good to have a first experience.
“I try to focus just on my game, to play game after game, not to look too much at the points, not to look too much at the standings.”
This comes not long after Daniil Medvedev said whether the ATP Finals should give out wildcards as Novak Djokovic seems set to miss out.
Arthur Fils’ outstanding 2026 season as he closes in on ATP Finals qualification
As Fils draws ever closer to complete confirmation of his ATP Finals qualification, it’s worth remembering the performances that have put him in this position.
And, what is perhaps most impressive is that he has achieved this feat with virtually no points added via Grand Slams.
Still recovering from his back injury, he began the year by missing the Australian Open. Then, having picked up a hip issue, as a precaution, he had to withdraw from Roland Garros.
His first Grand Slam match of the season therefore came at Wimbledon, where he was handily beaten by Matteo Berrettini in just the second round.
Arthur Fils’ 2026 Grand Slam performances
- Australian Open – did not play
- Roland Garros – did not play
- Wimbledon, lost in R2 to Matteo Berrettini
- US Open, lost in R1 to Stefanos Tsitsipas
Then, an even tougher draw saw him defeated by a resurgent Stefanos Tsitsipas in the US Open first round.
Fortunately, his Masters 1000 performances have masked these Grand Slam struggles, having reached the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open, the semi-finals of the Miami and Madrid Opens, and won the Cincinnati Open.
He also won a title in Barcelona, as well as reaching the final in Doha.
