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Arthur Fils withdraws from French Open with hip injury; Sinner and Sabalenka lead seeds
Arthur Fils has withdrawn from the 2026 French Open due to a hip injury, while Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka headline the men's and women's draws. The tournament begins Sunday with notable first-round matchups including Coco Gauff's title defence against Taylor Townsend.
Arthur Fils, France's top-ranked tennis player, has withdrawn from the 2026 French Open, citing the same hip injury that forced him out of the Italian Open two weeks ago. The 21-year-old, seeded 17th, was scheduled to face 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in the opening round. The tournament, which begins Sunday, will see Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka lead the men's and women's draws as top seeds.
Coverage Comparison
Two reports from RFI — English covered the tournament's draw and the subsequent withdrawal. The first, published on 21 May, detailed the draw ceremony and highlighted key first-round matchups. The second, published on 23 May, focused on Fils' withdrawal, including his own comments about the injury. Both reports maintained a neutral, informative tone, with no loaded language or editorialising.
Key Claims
Arthur Fils pulled out of the 2026 French Open due to a hip injury. He was seeded 17th and scheduled to play Stan Wawrinka in the opening round.
Fils had previously withdrawn from the Italian Open due to the same hip injury, abandoning his second-round match against Andrea Pellegrino.
Jannik Sinner is the favourite to win the men's title, having won the Masters 1000 event in Rome. He will start his campaign against France's Clément Tabur, who received a wildcard.
Novak Djokovic will begin his bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Coco Gauff will defend her title against fellow American Taylor Townsend. Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka in last year's final.
Lois Boisson will face 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya in the first round. Boisson, ranked 50th, reached the semi-finals in 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka, the women's top seed, will start against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, while four-time winner Iga Swiatek faces 17-year-old Emerson Jones.
Perspectives
Arthur Fils
Fils expressed disappointment but prioritised his long-term health. "It's a shame," he said. "In Rome, I felt some discomfort in my hip, and I didn't want to take any risks." He added that despite tests showing no issues, he remained in pain and couldn't train. "If this were the last tournament of my life, I would have played, but I hope to have another 10 or 15 years ahead of me, so I don't want to make the same mistakes again." Fils had been sidelined for eight months with a back issue after withdrawing from last year's French Open.
Coco Gauff
Reflecting on her 2025 final victory, Gauff recalled the moment she won match point. "My mind definitely went blank. Since I was little, I always said if I won the French Open that I wouldn't fall on the ground because I didn't want to get clay in my hair. But I think I was so relieved that the match was over because it was three hours. I was so happy, I just fell on the ground."
How this outlet told it
RFI — English
Framing: French player withdrawal — neutral
Facts Included:
Arthur Fils pulled out of the 2026 French Open due to a hip injury
Fils was seeded 17th and scheduled to play Stan Wawrinka in the opening round
Fils had previously withdrawn from the Italian Open due to the same injury
Jannik Sinner is the favorite to win the men's title
Sinner won the Masters 1000 event in Rome
Novak Djokovic will start his bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
AI-extracted; can misattribute a claim — see Methodology.
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimArthur Fils pulled out of the 2026 French Open due to a hip injury. Fils was seeded 17th and scheduled to play Stan Wawrinka in the opening round.
ClaimThe French Open draw has been announced, with Jannik Sinner as the top seed in the men's draw and Aryna Sabalenka as the top seed in the women's draw.