Arthur Fils will not be participating in the Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, a new ATP 250 tennis tournament set to take place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon. The event is scheduled for October 19 to 25, though some reports mention October 18 to 25, 2026, which may be a typographical error. Confirmed participants include several high-profile players such as Lorenzo Musetti, Valentin Vacherot, Ugo Humbert, Matteo Berrettini, Frances Tiafoe, Gaël Monfils, and Stan Wawrinka. Fils, however, has chosen to compete in the ATP 250 event in Brussels instead. This decision was already known, but Thierry Ascione, the tournament director, addressed it directly during a press conference on Tuesday. Ascione noted that "only one is missing," referring to Fils, who is currently ranked in the Top 10 globally. He recalled that the Lyon tournament played a significant role in Fils's career by offering him a wildcard in 2023, which led to his first ATP title at the age of 18 after defeating Francisco Cerundolo in the final. Ascione expressed that he had hoped Fils would return to Lyon before choosing Brussels, but Fils preferred to play in Brussels, a tournament he has already won. Ascione stated that the other French players are present and that there is not much more to say about the situation. Ascione also mentioned that it is the first year the tournament is giving a wildcard to a foreigner, though he noted that Stan Wawrinka's participation is a different case, as it is the end of his career. He emphasized that the tournament has always supported French players, including Fils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. However, Fils decided to play elsewhere the same week. If Fils had not played that week, Ascione suggested it might have been a sports or strategic choice, but Fils preferred Brussels. When asked about the possibility of a disagreement over financial guarantees, Ascione assured that the discussions had not even reached that stage. He concluded with a touch of irony, saying, "Perhaps he did not realize that we have a tournament in Lyon..."