Gael Monfils retires in emotional Paris farewell

Gael Monfils retired from professional tennis in October, concluding a 22-year career. His final match came at the US Open, followed by an emotional send-off ceremony at the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday night, where a giant 'Merci Gaël' tifo was unveiled. Fellow French players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet, and Benoit Paire joined him on court for the 15-minute tribute.

He was 40 years old at the time of his retirement. Monfils had quietly appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s inactive list last month without explanation. He played 22 years as a professional, from 2004 to 2026, and was celebrated for his ability to energize crowds worldwide. The event contrasted with his longer, more energetic farewell at Roland-Garros in May. Monfils had planned to end his career in 2026 with a final bow at the Paris Masters but retired earlier.

Career highlights and milestones

Monfils achieved significant success including 13 ATP singles titles, two Grand Slam semi-finals, and a career-high world ranking of sixth. He was the last of the 'New Musketeers'-Tsonga, Gasquet, Simon-still playing on tour.

His first ATP title came in Poland in 2005. His last was won in Auckland in January 2025, making him the oldest player on the men’s circuit to win a title that year. His Grand Slam career ended at the 2025 US Open, where he lost to Learner Tien in the second round.

At the Paris Masters, he played 11 editions with a record of 16 wins and 10 defeats. He reached the final twice, in 2009 and 2010, losing to Novak Djokovic and Robin Soderling respectively. His first win in Paris came in 2004 at age 18 against Thomas Enqvist; his last match there was a first-round loss to Francisco Cerundolo in 2023.

Personal challenges and separation

Monfils' retirement was influenced by his separation from Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina. The marriage breakdown occurred before October 26, 2026, and affected his mental well-being and training. During a Twitch livestream on October 26, he admitted the breakup took a toll.

He stated he was not doing great mentally and could not train as he'd like. He said he was eating less and everything felt worse. The emotional strain made it difficult to prepare for remaining tournaments. Monfils acknowledged both were handling a difficult period after their separation.

He married Svitolina in July 2021 and they welcomed their daughter Skai in October 2022. During his final lap of honour, he dedicated the moment to his 4-year-old daughter, thanking her for her support. Monfils also thanked tournament director Cédric Pioline and FFT president Gilles Moretton for helping him overcome fears about his final public appearance. He defended Svitolina against online criticism, calling it 'unkind at best and venomous at worst'.

Future tributes and exhibitions

A formal retirement tribute for Monfils is scheduled for November 3, 2026, at the Rolex Paris Masters. He never played at La Défense Arena during his career.

He will also participate in an exhibition to mark Stan Wawrinka’s retirement in Geneva in December. Monfils will join Roger Federer and Andy Murray in that event.

Gael Monfils said: "I'm not going to hide that this is a very difficult moment to say goodbye." He also told the Paris crowd, "The most beautiful thing that this world has given me is you, the wonderful crowd." November 3 also marks eight years since Monfils began his relationship with his daughter Skai's mother. He expressed hope that his daughter will become a great champion and play in Paris one day.