Gael Monfils Retires, Gets Paris Masters Farewell Tribute

Gael Monfils has retired from professional tennis and will be honored with a tribute event at the Paris Masters on November 3. The 40-year-old French star, a former World No. 6, cited the emotional impact of his separation from fellow player Elina Svitolina as the primary reason for his sudden departure from the sport.

Monfils will return to Paris for a farewell tribute at the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday, November 3, after the first match of the night session at 7 p.m. The Paris Masters released a statement announcing the event. Monfils is no longer eligible to compete in professional tournaments due to his retired status, a move confirmed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which added him to its 'retired' list on October 5, 2026. To return to competition, he would need to complete six months of out-of-competition anti-doping testing.

Personal reasons for retirement

Monfils confirmed that emotional struggles following his separation from Elina Svitolina led directly to his retirement. He stated he was not at his top psychological state and could not train or play well after the breakup, which he said hurt him deeply. The decision to retire early was made after the separation, which was publicly announced by Svitolina on October 19, 2026. She cited the emotional toll of the war in her homeland, Ukraine, as a factor in their split, while acknowledging Monfils' support and not blaming him for the separation.

Family and life changes

Fatherhood significantly altered Monfils' perspective on his career. He and Svitolina share a daughter, Skaï, born in October 2022. Monfils stated that becoming a father changed his relationship with tennis and his priorities, emphasizing his desire to be a good father and family man and to adjust his schedule for family time. The couple had been married since July 2021. Monfils' final professional match was a second-round defeat to Learner Tien at the 2026 US Open.

Support and public reaction

Despite the quiet nature of his exit, Monfils commands immense respect within the sport. Tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker sent supportive messages to Monfils and Svitolina following some public backlash to their initial announcement. Monfils himself thanked the French tennis family for their support. Known for his athleticism and entertaining style, he had originally planned to retire at the end of the 2026 season with the Paris Masters as a planned farewell tournament, but his personal circumstances accelerated the timeline.

The tribute ceremony at Bercy will allow him to say goodbye to fans in person. Monfils, who is close to tournament director Cédric Pioline, indicated the ceremony will be shorter than tributes at Roland-Garros and will be followed by a second match. He had intended to play the ATP 250 event in Lyon last week and received a wild-card entry but did not compete, having already stepped back from the tour organization due to a lack of headspace.

The tribute ceremony will take place after the first night-session match at 7 p.m. on November 3.