Arthur Fils is the leading contender to become France’s next Grand Slam singles champion.
France’s last Grand Slam singles champion was Marion Bartoli, who won Wimbledon in 2013. However, it has been even longer since the last French man won a major title, with Yannick Noah winning Roland Garros 43 years ago.
The current top French ATP player is Fils, who is the current world number seven and has qualified for the ATP Finals this year after a breakthrough season, which includes winning his first Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open.
There are a lot of hopes for Fils, who is still only 22 years old, and Grand Slam doubles champion Patrick McEnroe has revealed if he thinks he has got what it takes to win a major.
Give us one bold prediction for the final months of the 2026 tennis season!
Patrick McEnroe backs Arthur Fils to win a Grand Slam if he can stay fit
McEnroe spoke to Tennis Actu TV about Fils, where he was asked for his verdict on the Frenchman.
Fils has been through many physical issues in recent years, having played just two matches in nine months before returning to the ATP Tour in February after being sidelined with a stress fracture in his lower back. McEnroe stated his belief that if Fils can remain fit then he has what it takes to win a Grand Slam title.
“I like him a lot, he is an excellent player,” McEnroe said about Fils. “I hope he can play all the time because he has been injured for a long time, but if he can play during the season I believe he can win a Grand Slam.”
With Fils having qualified for the ATP Finals, becoming the first Frenchman to do so since the now-retired Gael Monfils in 2026, McEnroe was asked about the year-end tournament and if it is even harder than winning a Grand Slam.
“It’s only the eight players, the top eight players from the world,” said McEnroe. “It’s very special for the players and the elite of everyone.”
McEnroe added, “I think both are very difficult, but maybe the Grand Slams [are bigger] because there’s a lot of pressure and a lot of weeks but it’s very difficult to win the Tour Finals too.”
What is Arthur Fils’ best Grand Slam tournament?
Despite Fils having broken into the top 10 this year after winning the Cincinnati Masters and the Barcelona Open, he has not been able to make the same breakthroughs at Grand Slam tournaments.
Fils has never reached the quarter-finals of any major tournament so far in his career, with the Australian Open and Roland Garros being the two Grand Slams where he has his best win-loss record. Despite this, it is actually Wimbledon where Fils achieved his best result after reaching the fourth round in 2024.
Grand Slam tournaments have certainly not been a happy hunting ground for Fils in 2026, having only won one match at majors this year. This came at Wimbledon for Fils, who was forced to miss both the Australian Open and Roland Garros through injury, and lost in the first round of the US Open.
| Grand Slam | Arthur Fils’ win-loss record | Arthur Fils’ best result | Arthur Fils’ result in 2026 |
| Australian Open | 3-2 (60%) | Third Round (2025) | Did not play |
| Roland Garros | 3-2 (60%) | Third Round (2025) | Did not play |
| Wimbledon | 4-3 (57.1%) | Fourth Round (2024) | Second Round |
| US Open | 2-3 (40%) | Second Round (2023 & 2024) | First Round |
Fils will not be able to improve his Grand Slam record until the Australian Open next year, with his current focus on his home tournament at the Paris Masters, before he ends his season at the ATP Finals.
After winning his opening match in Paris against Tomas Machac, Fils will now play Taylor Fritz, with the American hoping to join him at the ATP Finals this year. This will be a second meeting between Fils and Fritz, with the head-to-head between them level at one win apiece.
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