With just two weeks to go until Roland Garros (May 24 – June 7), French No. 1 and world No. 17 Arthur Fils was forced to retire from his opening match at the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome on Saturday due to injury. The 20-year-old had been sidelined for eight months—from August 2025 to February 2026—recovering from a back injury, but his return now faces another setback.
Fils was trailing 0–4 against Italian Andrea Pellegrino when he decided to stop playing. Shortly before retiring, he had called for the tournament’s medical assistance. The early exit raises fresh concerns about his fitness heading into the second Grand Slam of the season.
This marks a disappointing moment for Fils, who had fought hard to regain full form after his lengthy layoff. His withdrawal in Rome comes just as he was looking to build momentum on clay ahead of Roland Garros.