Arthur Fils’ new weight-loss plan reshapes his Indian Wells test

Arthur fils is walking into the third round at Indian Wells with a different day-to-day routine—and a different physical profile—after shedding at least 6 to 7 kilos to reduce stress on his back. As of Sunday at 2: 01 p. m. ET, that shift sets a new baseline for how he manages diet, movement, and serve mechanics as the tournament intensifies.

Arthur Fils brings a lighter frame—and stricter habits—into Indian Wells

The most immediate change is practical: Arthur fils says he has cut out “extras” from his diet, including cookies that have been visible in player areas at Indian Wells. He joked after his opening win that he still hadn’t touched one “for the moment, ” even while admitting he has a weakness for chocolate-chip cookies.

Still, the choice is tied to a bigger recalibration. He says the result has been “at least 6 to 7 kilos” lost, putting him at around 86 kilograms now. The adjustment came after recent weeks back on the circuit, when his slimmer silhouette was noticeable compared with the last time he had been seen playing in person.

He also described the discipline in everyday terms after a loss earlier this season, quipping that when he gets back to his room it “won’t be McDo. ” The line landed as humor, but he has framed the effort itself as serious, built around staying healthier.

Indian Wells stakes rise as Arthur Fils faces Marton Fucsovics Sunday night

The immediate competitive consequence is that Arthur fils’ next match arrives quickly, with a defined spot on the schedule. Indian Wells’ third round begins Sunday night with the bottom half of the men’s draw, and Arthur fils is set to play Marton Fucsovics in the third rotation on Court 3, after two women’s matches.

Fucsovics enters the matchup coming off a win over Lorenzo Musetti. The winner of Arthur fils vs. Fucsovics will advance to face the winner of the match scheduled next to open the evening session, a contest between world No. 9 Félix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriel Diallo.

That structure matters because it clarifies what Arthur fils is playing for beyond a single win: the result immediately determines his next opponent pathway, with the next round contingent on outcomes later in the same session.

Arthur Fils says the weight loss was “mainly” for his back

The longer-term consequence is about durability. Arthur fils has linked the weight reduction primarily to injury prevention, saying he did it “really mainly for my back. ” The decision followed a period of reflection with his team, after he chose a slower recovery approach to treat a fatigue fracture in his back.

In the account of his medical issue, the injury is described as a “lyse isthmique, ” a type of fatigue fracture affecting the lower spine—often around the L5 vertebra. Olivier Rouillon, identified as a former doctor for the French Golf Federation and Racing 92, explained it with a simple image: the back is like a stack of plates, and reducing weight above can reduce constraint on the lowest plate.

That said, the physical change is not presented as a standalone fix. Rouillon also emphasized that changes should be paired with modifications to the sporting movement itself. Arthur fils echoed that point, saying his team has tried to be careful with his service motion and with his movement patterns, including adjusting how he has moved for years.

One technical term was central to the explanation: hyperextension, which in plain English means bending the lower back beyond its normal range. In the context of serving and overhead motions, repeated hyperextensions can increase stress on the lumbar spine.

For now, the tradeoff is clear: Arthur fils is pursuing a lighter, more mobile body while also reworking key parts of how he plays. Laurent Laffite, a fitness coach on assignment for the French Tennis Federation who worked with him in 2022 and 2023, summarized the upside as more speed and mobility with less weight—while also pointing to the challenge of preserving the quality of a tennis identity built on power.

The next confirming moment arrives with the third-round schedule Sunday night. If Arthur fils wins his match in that third-rotation Court 3 slot, he will move directly into a next-round meeting with either Félix Auger-Aliassime or Gabriel Diallo later in the tournament.