London, June 28 (IANS) French tennis player Arthur Fils expresses renewed confidence heading into Wimbledon after recovering from a hip injury that sidelined him from Roland Garros earlier this year. Before his first-round match at the All England Club, the 22-year-old shared his belief in his ability to overcome injuries, his growing love for grass-court tennis, and the positive signs he’s observed in training as he prepares for his third appearance at The Championships.

Despite facing several injuries over the past year, Fils maintained that his confidence in his game has stayed the same.

“Every time I come back, I know that I will always play good tennis. So I know that I just need to come back on the court and then I will enjoy myself,” Fils told ATP Tour.

The French player has good reason to be optimistic after a strong start to the season, despite his recent absence. After returning from a long back injury earlier this year, Fils won the ATP title in Barcelona and made deep runs at the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Miami and Madrid, solidifying his reputation as one of tennis’s most promising young players.

Now that he’s back in action, Fils thinks the grass courts at Wimbledon complement his personality and playing style.

“I really enjoy playing on grass. It’s very funny. You can jump. You can slide. It’s very cool — I really enjoy it. Let’s see if I’m playing great this week. But for now, the practice has been pretty good,” Fils added.

He also expressed satisfaction with his physical condition after weeks of rehabilitation, suggesting he is ready to compete at full intensity.

“I’m playing great. The body feels good. The movement is good. So, it’s all good,” he stated.

Fils arrives at Wimbledon after already demonstrating his ability to perform on the surface. Last year, he reached the fourth round at the All England Club, accounting for half of his career tour-level victories on grass during that run. His powerful baseline game, athletic movement, and willingness to dictate rallies have translated effectively to the faster conditions, giving him confidence ahead of another campaign in London.

The 22-year-old opens his tournament against Belgium’s Raphael Collignon in their first ATP Tour meeting. A victory would move him into a potential second-round encounter against either former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini or three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.

Having overcome yet another injury-related interruption, Fils returns to one of tennis’ biggest stages, carrying both momentum from earlier in the season and an unwavering belief that his best tennis will quickly return whenever he does.

–IANS

vi/