Tennis Legend Gael Monfils Says Goodbye to French Open Ahead of Retirement
The 39-year-old Frenchman fell in five sets, then received an on-court farewell from fellow players and family after his final Roland Garros match.
- On Monday night, Gael Monfils played his final French Open match at Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris, losing in five sets to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston as an emotional crowd, including his wife Elina Svitolina, wept him off the court after 3 hours and 22 minutes.
- The Paris-born showman had announced this would be his last season on tour and final appearance at Roland Garros, where he won the boys' title in 2004 and reached the semi-finals in 2008. Over more than two decades, Monfils became recognized for filling stadiums rather than for trophies.
- Gaston dominated the opening sets 6-2, 6-3, but Monfils clawed back the third and fourth sets 6-3, 6-2. The fifth set unravelled quickly 6-0 despite the stadium's refusal to accept the script, with Monfils saving one match point but not the second.
- During an on-court ceremony, Monfils told his wife Svitolina, 'Without her, I may not be here tonight,' while Novak Djokovic called him 'one of the most likeable guys, fun guys out there,' and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner admitted players would miss him in the locker room.
- Monfils plans to continue competing through 2026, hoping for wild cards at Wimbledon and the US Open before signing off at the Paris Masters in November. Meanwhile, his wife Svitolina advances in her Roland Garros campaign, having won the Italian Open earlier this month and is considered a leading women's title contender.
26 Articles
26 Articles
10 Photos of Gael Monfils: Tennis Player's Emotional French Open Farewell Reduces Wife Elina Svitolina to Tears
Gael Monfils played what is expected to be his final match at the French Open in Paris on Monday night, losing in five sets to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston as an emotional Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd, including his wife Elina Svitolina, roared and then wept him off the court. Monfils, 39, had already announced that this would be his last season on tour and his last appearance at Roland Garros, the stage where he first won the boys' title in 20…
Gael Monfils’ Emotional French Open Farewell: Heartfelt Words for Elina Svitolina, Wimbledon Wish and More
The crowd inside Court Philippe-Chatrier clung to nostalgia deep into the night yesterday, desperately yearning for one final flash of magic from Gael Monfils. Fans sang, roared, and carried “La Monf’” through an emotionally charged battle before fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston ended the dream in five heartbreaking sets. Yet as tears rolled through the Paris crowd, the night felt less like a defeat and more like a beautiful farewell wrapped in unfo…
Combining but caught up in the weight of the years, the French showman Gaël Monfils disappeared on Monday in the first round of his 19th and last Roland-Garros. Vaincu 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0 by his
With Gaël Monfils, one of the fans' greatest favourites in Roland Garros has said goodbye to his home audience.
Last Tennis Drama for Monfils: One of the Most Popular Players in the World Makes Emotional Goodbyes
The last match of Gaël Monfils at the French Open has it in itself again. After that there are pure emotions. Also the very big ones of his sport bow down to the French.
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