Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ended it at Roland Garros in 2022, as did Richard Gasquet in 2025. Giles Simon finished his career in Bercy in 2022. Given that three of the “Four Musketeers” retired in their homeland, it was understandable that Gael Monfils wanted to do the same. The former World No. 6 had played his last French Open this year, but he continued his farewell Tour, which understandably put Bercy as his natural endpoint in everyone’s minds. However, unlike his compatriots, New York was the last stop in the tennis journey for “La Monf”.
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If one were to visit the retired section of the ITIA players list on the official website, Monfils’ name appears first, with October 5 listed as the official date of retirement beside the Frenchman’s name. The ITIA listing is a serious matter, as once players are placed on the retired list, they are exempt from the tedious whereabouts rule and automatically free of their anti-doping obligations, which they must fulfill while they are active players on the Tour.
The listing would mean that the US Open this year was Monfils’s last professional event, and that his second-round match against Learner Tien was his last. This is contrary to the Frenchman’s own wishes, as he wished the Paris Masters to be his “Ideal” end. Even in the last event of his career, the charismatic Frenchman showed his on-court abilities, as he was able to win his first-round match against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in a packed show court in New York.
While Monfils’ name on the retired list might have caught a lot of people off-guard, it was long known that 2026 would be his last year on the Tour. The Frenchman got a huge reception at his home Slam at Roland Garros, where a special exhibition event, titled “Gael and Friends”, saw a star-studded lineup of Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Naomi Osaka, among others. Not to forget, Monfils’ wife and World No. 6, Elina Svitolina, was also there on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
In his last Major of his life, Monfils played in the US Open mixed doubles competition along with Svitolina. The couple enjoyed strong crowd support in New York, losing in a close semifinal to the duo of Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. After his singles campaign ended, the Frenchman was presented with a commemorative plaque celebrating his 18 years of US Open experience.
Monfils’ retirement would disappoint most of his fans, especially in France, who would have been keen to see him in Bercy for one last time. Not to mention, the Frenchman had reportedly received a wildcard for the indoor event in Lyon as well. His retirement came after another fan favorite, Kei Nishikori, bowed out of the sport following his home event in Tokyo. Even Stan Wawrinka is slated to play his final event in Basel this year, which makes Monfils’ decision to retire now somewhat upsetting.
While his career stats can be found with one click on the Internet, the influence of Monfils was far greater than that, as he was one of the role models for players of the next generation.
Gael Monfils Was a Favorite Among the Next Generation as Well
Monfils’ athletic prowess on court, his creative shotmaking, and his signature jump-smash made his matches a regular feature of ATP highlight reels, regardless of the result. The Frenchman was popular not only among fans but also among younger stars. During his Canadian Open loss to Learner Tien, Monfils was surprised when his young American opponent asked him for his autograph at the net, a glowing tribute to a career of over two decades.
Even Tien’s compatriot, Ben Shelton, has admitted that Monfils was his favorite player to watch on YouTube, as the Frenchman’s on-court showmanship appealed to the American. Even someone like Jakub Mensik did not shy away from admitting the former World No. 6 to be one of his idols growing up.
“I told him when I was young I watched him a lot on the TV,” said Mensik after his win over Monfils at the 2024 Qatar Open. “One of the biggest showmen on court. He is a great guy, so hopefully in the future, we will meet once again. The rallies were so fun with him.”
While a Masters 1000 title or a Grand Slam eluded the Frenchman throughout his career, Monfils was one of the most consistent players on the Tour, reaching at least one final for nineteen consecutive seasons, something which only few players have achieved. Now, the 40-year-old hopes to bring the same consistency to corporate work, having expressed interest in transitioning away from tennis and entering a Swiss-based banking firm.