“I’m going to give it my all” – Arthur Fils personally invited to train with Nadal

The young Frenchman is set to train with Rafael Nadal in Kuwait during the off-season, as the Spaniard gears up for a long-awaited comeback

Arthur Fils at the 2023 Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Austria

Jamie Malachy

December 2, 2023

Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM 2023 Men's Singles •Semi-final • completed

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A. FilsvsL. Van Assche

19-year-old Arthur Fils is having quite the week. Just hours after reaching the final of the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah, the young Frenchman revealed that he had received a personal invitation to train with Rafael Nadal.

Starting on 8th December, Fils will join the 22-time Grand Slam champion for a week-long training block in Kuwait as the Spaniard steps up his preparations for a highly-anticipated return to competitive action in January.

“He very kindly invited me,” Fils told French sports newspaper L’Equipe.

“I’m going to give it my all. I’m going to try not to get too carried away on his forehands (smiles). I’m going to get the most out of it.”

Rafa Nadal invited Arthur Fils to train with him for a week in Kuwait, starting December 8:

"He very kindly invited me. I'm going to give it my all. I'm going to try not to get too carried away on his forehands (smiles). I'm going to get the most out of it." (via @QuentinMoynet)… pic.twitter.com/bwLOr7v3xZ
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 1, 2023

Currently sitting at a career-best ranking of No 36 in the world, and still only 19 years of age, Fils is one of the most exciting young prospects on tour.

Despite previously admitting that he was always a Roger Federer fan at heart, the young Frenchman was quick to express his admiration for all Nadal has achieved.

“My idol was Roger, but the more we grow up, the more we appreciate watching Rafa play, his fighting spirit, his game.”

Another exciting milestone in a breakthrough year for Arthur Fils

Fils has enjoyed a very impressive breakthrough year in 2023, which has culminated in his qualification for, and subsequent run to the final of, the Next Gen Finals this week.

He won his first ATP title at the Lyon Open in May, as well as producing eye-catching runs to the semi-finals of the Open Sud de France back in February and reaching a second tour-level final at the European Open just a few weeks back.

At the opposite end of his career, Nadal has endured a very different season. The Spaniard has been out all year following a hip injury he sustained during a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January.

He underwent surgery on the issue in June, and has been steadily building his way back to full fitness throughout the second half of the year.

Fils beats compatriot Van Assche to reach the Next Gen Finals final

Just yesterday, Nadal finally announced what many fans had been waiting months to have confirmed – that the former world No 1 will return to action next month during the season-opening Australian summer swing.

Hot on the heels of that announcement came the revelation the Nadal had personally invited Fils to join him during the off-season as the Spaniard gears up for his return.

Before then, however, Fils will play one of the biggest matches of his young career as he takes on another highly promising youngster, 20-year-old Serbian Hamad Medjedovic, in the final of the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah.

Whichever way that result goes, it has been an immensely promising year for Fils, and one that looks to be ending on yet another very exciting high note.