He will be feared by everyone: Can Arthur Fils shake up the hierarchy at Roland

Returning to the court after a long recovery, Arthur Fils shone on clay by winning the ATP 500 in Barcelona. As Roland-Garros approaches, expectations for him are high.

As cycling hopes to have found the successor to Bernard Hinault in Paul Seixas, tennis may have found the long-awaited heir who will finally succeed Yannick Noah at Roland-Garros: Arthur Fils. This speculation has grown since the Frenchman’s victory at the ATP 500 in Barcelona on Sunday, April 18. But should we really get excited about the 21-year-old ranked 25th in the world?

“He could get excited, it’s the media, the fans. But I don’t think he’s getting carried away,” summarizes Nicolas Escudé. “Already last year we expected a lot from him before his injury,” recalls the former world number 17, referring to the stress fracture in the back that forced Arthur Fils to withdraw before the third round of Roland-Garros. “This injury made him grow, allowed him to ask himself certain questions, gave him time to work on certain points, but also to face doubt,” explains the former national technical director of the FFT between 2021 and 2024.

Apart from an unsuccessful attempt to return last summer in Toronto, Arthur Fils spent eight months away from the international circuit. True to what he had announced, and despite the vigor of his 21 years, the Frenchman was patient, rebuilt in the shadows. He quickly returned to the forefront since his return at the Open d’Occitanie in Montpellier in February. “It’s been two months since he returned, and he just passed Novak Djokovic in the Race [the world ranking on the calendar year]. In Doha, he lost in the final to Carlos Alcaraz, then continued with a quarterfinal in Indian Wells, a semifinal in Miami, and a victory in Barcelona, which is very encouraging,” notes Nicolas Escudé.

The Catalan tournament was the first for the Frenchman on clay, having skipped Monte Carlo “to better adjust to the transition from hard to clay courts,” explains Nicolas Escudé, “and it worked for him.” Impress both the local press and several former circuit legends in Barcelona. “When he won the ATP 500 in Hamburg two years ago against Alexander Zverev, he was already playing at this high level,” recalls Arnaud Clément. “It’s great to see Arthur play like this, but not surprising. Last year, he reached quarterfinals in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo, then a semifinal in Barcelona.”

A hectic pace that the native of Bondoufle (Essonne) has maintained this year, allowing him to reach 25th in the world. This ranking could improve if Arthur Fils does better than a second round at the Madrid Masters 1000 and an eighth-final in Rome, which would give him a bit more protection at Roland-Garros.

“He could still do well at Roland-Garros, even if he won’t be as protected as the very best. But what really matters is his level. Considering what he has just achieved, he will be feared by everyone. No one will appreciate having Arthur Fils in their part of the draw,” warns Arnaud Clément, former captain of the French Davis Cup team.

“He has been very consistent at the beginning of the year and has raised his game. He already had a top 10 level last year and is confirming it since his return,” adds Arnaud Clément, who also mentions: “He will have pressure, he has already started to handle it well because he is well surrounded. Apart from Alcaraz and Sinner, he can look everyone in the eye.” Before entering the stage in Madrid, Jannik Sinner also mentioned him: “He is playing incredible tennis right now. He is very focused on what he needs to do, very strong physically. He shows a lot of consistency on all surfaces. Winning in Barcelona will give him a lot of confidence to play well here, in Rome, and especially in Paris with the French crowd…It’s for sure that we need to pay attention to him.”

But getting to the final victory is not an easy step, according to Arnaud Clément: “We have to see what he can potentially do against Alcaraz and Sinner,” adds our expert, even if there is uncertainty regarding the Spanish player’s participation due to a wrist injury.

“Behind Alcaraz and Sinner, we wonder who could be the third man: some say Joao Fonseca or Jakub Mensik, but it could be Arthur Fils. After all, there is still a lot of work to be done,” concludes Arnaud Clément.

An enthusiasm shared by Nicolas Escudé, who however cautions: “At Roland Garros, in case of bad luck, he could face Alcaraz or Sinner in the third round. All lights are green today, but going from never qualifying for the second week of a Grand Slam to being an outsider for Roland-Garros…It’s something to get excited about, but still be cautious. But he sets extremely high goals for himself.” Like a place in the semifinals of Roland-Garros, for his fourth participation? Possible, given the level reached by the Frenchman in recent weeks.

“Last year, he made an impression, like against Carlos Alcaraz in Monte-Carlo. But sometimes he missed. This is no longer the case today,” notes Nicolas Escudé. This stability changes everything, according to the former DTN: “Sending heaviness on the forehand, missiles on service, he already knew how to do it. But when to do them, how to build his matches, how to extinguish his opponents, he learned it. He does everything as before but better thought out, reflected, better worked. In Barcelona, it was a recital.”

“He is better prepared and physically armed today. There has been tremendous work on the athletic side, he lost six or seven kilos. To get the ball out of reach of Arthur, you have to go for it!” says Nicolas Escudé.

“They had this desire to be a little lighter so that he could chain weeks a little better. With progress in physical preparation, we no longer need the same amount of muscles to hit as hard. And a few kilos less reduce constraints on the back, ankles, knees. It plays a role in the longevity of a career, in recovery. Maybe also in the speed of movement,” explains Arnaud Clément. “On serve, he is even stronger, consistent, and precise. In fact, he is a bit better in all areas.”

So, what is missing for the French number one to rise to the top of world tennis? “To compete with the best more often, to gain experience and send messages, which he has been doing since his return,” says Nicolas Escudé. “Today, no one can brag in front of him. Facing Arthur on clay, with the form he’s in, apart from Alcaraz and Sinner, no one can compete with him.”

To worry the Spaniard and the Italian, “he still needs to progress in all areas,” adds Arnaud Clément, “even if Arthur is progressing well and also has weapons like his very complete game, moving forward, and his great volley quality. He’s a super player to follow because he has a lot of diversity, he doesn’t just hit the ball hard but also moves well.” And because he could be the French ray of sunshine at Roland-Garros.