Arthur Fils to enter Tokyo qualifying despite Top-10 rise

Arthur Fils is set to enter the ATP Top 10 for the first time next week, yet he will not receive the direct main-draw place normally expected of a player at that level in Tokyo. The Frenchman must first pass through qualifying for the tournament, which runs from September 30 to October 6, creating an unusual start to his Asian campaign.

Fils failed to register for the event before the deadline. As a result, the 22-year-old will have to win two qualifying matches before he can compete in the main draw. Over the past 20 years, no Top-10 player has had to take this route at an ATP tournament. His ranking makes the situation even more striking, as he is set to become the highest-ranked player to do so during that period.

The organisers could have avoided the qualifying route by awarding Fils a wildcard, but the three available invitations went instead to Japanese players, including Kei Nishikori. Fils will therefore need to earn his place on court, despite being France’s highest-ranked men’s player.

The Tokyo tournament comes after a disappointing US Open for Fils, who was eliminated in the opening round by Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas. His wider objective remains a place at the ATP Finals in Turin. Fils is currently seventh in the Race, leaving him with realistic prospects of qualifying for the season-ending event. Two additional matches in Tokyo now stand between him and the main draw as he begins that pursuit.