Fils Surges Back From Injury With Major Changes

Frenchman reaches Miami quarters after overcoming back stress fracture

Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:53am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Arthur Fils, the 21-year-old French tennis player, has made a remarkable comeback after being sidelined for six to eight months due to a stress fracture in his back. Since returning to the tour in February, Fils has reached the quarterfinals in Montpellier and the finals in Doha, and is now back-to-back quarterfinalist at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open. His quick return to form is notable not just for the results, but for the significant changes he has had to make off the court to put himself in a position to succeed, including working with a private physiotherapist, adjusting his serve and movement, and overhauling his diet by giving up his beloved cookies.

Why it matters

Fils' comeback highlights the challenges young players face in recovering from serious injuries and the need to make substantial lifestyle changes to return to peak performance. His story provides insight into the dedication and adaptability required to bounce back from setbacks at the highest levels of professional tennis.

The details

When the 2026 season opened, Fils was still recovering from the stress fracture in his back that forced him to shut down his 2025 season in August. Since returning in February, he has reached the quarterfinals in Montpellier, the finals in Doha, and now back-to-back quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open. To facilitate his recovery, Fils has started traveling with a private physiotherapist who provides daily treatment. He has also made technical changes to his serve, movement, and forehand. Off the court, Fils has had to make significant adjustments to his diet, giving up his beloved cookies which were readily available in the player lounges.

  • Fils sustained a stress fracture in his back at Roland Garros in May 2025.
  • Fils was forced to shut down his 2025 season in August due to the injury.
  • Fils returned to the tour in February 2026.

The players

Arthur Fils

A 21-year-old French tennis player who has made a remarkable comeback after being sidelined for six to eight months due to a stress fracture in his back.

Goran Ivanisevic

A former World No. 2 tennis player who Fils began working with as a coach in February 2026.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I am very happy to be back on Tour, it's been a long, long time. [I went] six, eight months without playing, so very happy to be back to compete against these guys.”

— Arthur Fils

“Now I'm travelling with my private physio. I think it's already a big change, because I do a lot of treatment, in the morning, lunch time and evening as well. The technique, I changed the serve a bit, I changed the way I move on the court, I changed the forehand a bit.”

— Arthur Fils

“We made with the team some big adjustments, especially with the physical part. I would take care of my body a bit more, but I was not thinking like this before. I was like, 'Okay, I'm younger. It's okay. I can handle everything', but my back didn't think that was the same.”

— Arthur Fils

“He was a huge champion and one of the best coaches on the Tour. We tried in Doha. It worked pretty good. I don't know why and how, but it worked pretty good.”

— Arthur Fils

“We also changed the nutrition a lot. I used to like to eat a lot of cookies. Now I cannot anymore. We changed a couple of things and now it feels like it's way better.”

— Arthur Fils

What’s next

Fils will face American Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open on Wednesday.

The takeaway

Fils' remarkable comeback from injury highlights the dedication, adaptability, and lifestyle changes required for young players to overcome serious setbacks and return to peak performance on the professional tennis tour.