Arthur Fils set to enter ATP top 10 for first time

Arthur Fils is set to restore French representation in the ATP’s top 10 at the end of September, without needing to play. The 22-year-old is currently 11th and will move up when Taylor Fritz drops points from last year’s Tokyo final. That promotion would end a six-year absence for France’s men at the highest level, following Gaël Monfils’ exit from the top 10 in 2020.

Fritz is scheduled to lose 330 points on September 28, while this year’s Tokyo tournament starts on September 30. Fils has no points to defend before February, giving him the mathematical advantage in the ranking. The only remaining route for him to stay 11th would be an unexpected title run by Novak Djokovic at either Hangzhou or Chengdu next week after receiving a wildcard. Djokovic is instead entered for Beijing the following week.

Fils will become the 13th French player to reach the ATP top 10, joining Yannick Noah, Henri Leconte, Thierry Tulasne, Guy Forget, Cédric Pioline, Arnaud Clément, Sébastien Grosjean, Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Monfils and Lucas Pouille. His season includes a Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, although his first-round defeat at the US Open interrupted that progress. He is absent from France’s Davis Cup tie this weekend and is due to return in Tokyo, where he may need qualifying or a wildcard, before Shanghai.