Nineteen-year-old tennis sensation Arthur Fils is making waves in the tennis world with his recent achievements. Fresh off reaching the final of the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah, the promising French player has unveiled an extraordinary opportunity: a personal invitation to train alongside the legendary Rafael Nadal.
Commencing on December 8th, Fils is set to join forces with the 22-time Grand Slam champion for an intensive week-long training session in Kuwait. This collaboration comes as Nadal intensifies his preparations for a highly-anticipated return to competitive action scheduled for January.
Expressing his gratitude, Fils shared with French sports newspaper L’Equipe, “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.”
The young athlete’s eagerness and determination to make the most of this remarkable opportunity reflect his dedication to learning and improving his game. Fils, known for his promising talent, sees this training stint as an invaluable experience, intending to absorb as much knowledge and expertise as possible from one of the tennis greats.
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
Nadal’s invitation to mentor and train with Fils not only highlights the Frenchman’s burgeoning potential but also underscores the generosity and mentorship spirit of the esteemed champion. This collaboration is anticipated to be a significant stepping stone in Fils’ career, offering him insights and techniques that could shape his future in the sport.
Fils’ enthusiasm to learn and grow from this upcoming training block demonstrates his maturity and ambition to excel in the competitive world of professional tennis. As he gears up to share the court with Nadal, the young athlete is poised to grasp this rare opportunity to refine his skills under the guidance of a tennis icon.
The tennis community eagerly anticipates the outcomes of this training venture, hoping it will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Arthur Fils’ promising career.
Arthur Fils in 2023
At the moment ranked no.36 (career-high), the French player played his last match on the 2nd of December when he was defeated by world no.110 Hamad Medjedovic 3-4(6) 4-1 4-2 3-4(9) 4-1 in the final in the Next Gen ATP Finals (draw).
Currently, during this season Arthur has a compiled 43-24 win-loss record. Arthur has won 2 titles in 2023 in the Oeiras 2 Challenger and Lyon. The French player was the finalist in the Quimper Challenger and Antwerp.
Rafael Nadal in 2023
Ranked world no.663, Nadal played his last match on the 18th of January when he was overcome by world no.41 Mackenzie Mcdonald 6-4 6-4 7-5 in the 2nd round of the Australian Open (draw).
Currently, during this year the Spaniard owns a composed 1-3 record.
Arthur Fils and Rafael Nadal have never faced off.
Arthur Fils and Rafael Nadal |
| Embed from Getty Images |
