One of France’s most popular tennis figures, Gael Monfils, announced on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of next season after spending more than 20 years on the Tour.
The former world No.6 issued a personal statement on his social media account in which he paid a touching tribute to his family and those who have supported him throughout his career. Monfils is married to fellow player Elina Svitolina and together they have a daughter called Skai. He described former players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet as his ‘three musketeers and best friends for life.’
“After celebrating my 39th birthday just a month ago, I’d like to share that the year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player,” Monfils said in a statement.
“The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career.
“Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision to retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season.”
After showing promise as a sprinter during his teenage years by winning national titles in the 100M, Monfils switched his focus to tennis, where he established himself as one of the sport’s more entertaining figures. A former junior world No. 1, in 2005, he was voted Newcomer of the Year in the 2005 ATP Awards.
During his career, Monfils won 13 Tour titles, with his most recent triumph earlier this year in Auckland, where he became the oldest ATP Tour-level champion since Ken Rosewall in 1977. In the Grand Slams, he reached the semi-finals of the 2008 French Open and 2016 US Open. He also reached the quarter-finals of a major event on eight other occasions.
“When you love something so much, it never feels like a good time to say goodbye,” he added. “But 40 will be the right time for me. Of course, winning one more title before I’m done would be truly incredible. Truthfully though, my only real goal for the year ahead is simple.
“To enjoy every minute, and to play each match like it’s my last.”
As of this week, the 39-year-old has recorded 583 wins against 350 losses (62.5% win rate) during his career. 38 of those wins were over top 10 players. He has also won more than $24.4M in prize money.
Monfils plans to play a full season in 2026 and retire at the end of it, which will likely be in his home country at the Paris Masters.
