Arthur Fils is now being discussed as a potential challenger to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Fils won his fourth ATP title in Barcelona, continuing his impressive comeback after a seven-month absence from the tour due to a back injury.
The Frenchman is now ranked back inside the top 30, with Fils predicted to make his top 10 debut in the near future.
Fils is also being compared to Alcaraz and Sinner, and now former top 30 player Steve Johnson has revealed if he thinks the 21-year-old can really challenge them going forward.
Steve Johnson and John Isner do not think Arthur Fils is a threat to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Fils is currently sixth in the race to the ATP Finals, despite missing the first Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open.
Despite his hugely impressive results as of late, Johnson claimed that no player is a real threat to Alcaraz and Sinner right now, despite being full of praise for Fils.
“Assuming his health is fine, everything seems like it has been trending in the right direction,” Johnson said about Fils on the Nothing Major Podcast. “He has not had to retire since the big back injury last year.
“This guy is electric. He is a phenomenal tennis player. But, look, I do not think he is a threat to Carlos and Jannik. I just don’t think anybody is quite frankly, but he is a threat to be a top five guy. His game is massive and his serve is huge.
“Getting through a tricky match early in a tournament can catapult you to play some of your best tennis and he got through Terence Atmane, 7-6 in the third in the first round. Then he plays his best tennis and rolls through that point.
“But the man is incredibly good. He is a threat on all these surfaces, it’s just hard to say he’s a threat to Carlos and Jannik as nobody has shown they can be a threat to them.”
Is Arthur Fils a genuine threat to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?
Former Wimbledon semifinalist John Isner joined the conversation and agreed with Johnson’s comments.
“I’m in Stevie’s camp, that you have to see it first to believe it,” said Isner. “If he were to play one of those guys at Roland Garros, you can imagine how insane that atmosphere would be for him.
“Still, I don’t think that would matter. But until you see someone not necessarily beat these two but play these guys in a super competitive three out of five set match, I can’t be a believer with anyone challenging those two players on any surface, let alone clay.
“He hits such a big ball. He is one of the best movers, his ground strokes huge. But those guys move so well that he is not going to be able to rip winners all day.”
Do you think Carlos Alcaraz can still win the French Open?
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Could Arthur Fils play Jannik Sinner at the Madrid Open?
Fils was beaten by Alcaraz in the Qatar Open final in February, but he has not played Sinner since 2023.
Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open due to his wrist injury, but Fils could play Sinner in the Spanish capital.
Fils can only play Sinner if both players reach the semifinals of the Madrid Open for the first time.
Their only previous meeting took on the indoor courts of Montpellier in 2023, where Sinner beat Fils 7-5, 6-2.
Fils could have to overcome the likes of Lorenzo Musetti, Ben Shelton and Valentin Vacherot if he is to face Sinner in Madrid.
Before then, Fils will play either Adrian Mannarino or Ignacio Buse in his opening match.
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