Fils Withdraws From Davis Cup: Medical Tests First

Arthur Fils will not play Canada-France in the Davis Cup on September 18 and 19. The world No. 11 announced his withdrawal a week after his first-round exit at the US Open, explaining that he wants a full medical check-up before returning to training:

"I'm very disappointed to have to pull out. After a physically difficult year and several spells on the sidelines, I have to be cautious today."

Fils' 2026 reads like two overlapping seasons. He skipped the Australian Open to rehab his back, retired in the second round in Rome with a stress fracture in his hip, and withdrew from Roland Garros. In between, he won Barcelona by beating Rublev and, on August 23, claimed the first Masters 1000 title of his career in Cincinnati against Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0. France hadn't had a champion at this level in twelve years.

Eight days later, in New York, he lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4 after leading 6-4, 4-1.

"When my energy dropped at the end of the second set, I never got it back,"

he said after the match. It's that sudden void, more than the defeat itself, that pushed him and his team toward the medical checks.

For France, the loss stings: the tie against Canada carries qualification for the Finals in Bologna, and the captain now finds himself without his player in the best form. Fils reiterated that representing France means a great deal to him and that he will follow his teammates from home.

His return depends on the test results. Tokyo and Shanghai remain the closest possibilities, while in Brussels the organizers of October's ATP 250 have already confirmed his entry. Fils is still in the running for Turin and chasing a top-10 ranking, two goals a September withdrawal doesn't cost him, but which demand a body able to hold up until November.