Just as the countdown to Wimbledon begins, France has been dealt a blow.

Their top-ranked tennis player, Arthur Fils, has officially withdrawn from the iconic tournament — not because he wants to, but because his body has made the decision for him.

Wimbledon Dreams Put on Hold

Wimbledon kicks off June 30, and all eyes will be on defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, along with heavyweights like Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.

But French fans won’t see their No. 1 male player in action.

Arthur Fils, currently ranked 15th in the world, won’t be making the trip to SW19.

His absence is a direct result of an injury he sustained at the French Open just a few weeks ago — and it’s not something he could simply power through.

What Happened at Roland Garros

Fils had made it to the third round of the French Open before pain got the better of him.

After an exhausting four-hour and 25-minute battle against Jaume Munar — which he won, shirtless celebration and all — he was forced to retire before his next match against Andrey Rublev.

The issue? A stress fracture in his lower back.

Not just a minor twinge, but a serious setback that put his whole summer in doubt.

A Recovery That Wasn’t Meant to Be

Arthur initially remained hopeful, saying after Roland Garros:

“We’re going to try to see if I can be ready for Wimbledon. It’s a big question mark.”

But he also admitted that there was no rush, emphasizing that taking care of his health now would be better for the long run — especially with the hard-court season and year-end tournaments still to come.

Rival Throws Shade at Fils’ Injury

Interestingly, not everyone believed Fils’ injury was as serious as he claimed.

Jaume Munar, the opponent he defeated before withdrawing, publicly suggested that Fils was just dealing with cramps — not a true injury.

But Fils quickly cleared that up.

Arthur Fils Explains the Truth Behind His Injury

Speaking openly, Fils revealed he’s been battling lower back problems for a while, particularly around his L5 vertebra. He shared:

“I had some issue with the back since a long time, and during the match against Munar it got worse.

Then I did some exams. The exams were not good at all — got some stress fracture.”

He added that continuing to play could’ve made things even worse:

“If I was pushing myself too much, I would probably stop for a couple of months.”

Instead, he and his team decided to stop now, hoping that with a four-to-six-week recovery window, he can still salvage the rest of the season.

A Painful Reminder from His Youth

This isn’t the first time Fils has dealt with this kind of problem.

The 21-year-old explained that he’s had the same injury before — even having to wear a back brace as a kid.

He also revealed that his spinal structure, including an arched lower back, makes him prone to bone marrow edema. Now, that same issue is resurfacing.

What’s Next for France’s Rising Star?

While sitting out Wimbledon is a major disappointment for Fils and his supporters, his focus is clearly on healing and preparing for the rest of the season.

At just 21, he knows there’s still plenty of time to make his mark at the All England Club — just not this year.