Gaël Monfils, the French tennis maestro renowned for his athleticism and showmanship, has announced that the 2026 season will be his last on the professional ATP Tour. The former world No. 6 made the emotional declaration on social media, signalling the end of a great 21-year career.
Monfils, who turned 39 in September, stated he is “tremendously at peace” with his decision to retire at the close of the 2026 tennis season, which will see him turn 40.
“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,” Monfils wrote in his heartfelt message. He added that while saying goodbye is never easy, “40 will be the right time for me.”
I’ve got something to share with you. pic.twitter.com/pBGh58O6pg
— Gael Monfils (@Gael_Monfils) October 1, 2025
Known to fans globally as ‘La Monf’ and ‘The Showman,’ Monfils delighted crowds with his spectacular diving volleys, incredible defence and pure passion for the sport. His unconventional style of play earned him a special following among all of us tennis nerds, making him one of the tour’s most popular players.
The Frenchman reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in 2016 and holds 13 ATP Tour singles titles, the most recent of which he got at the Auckland Open in January, making him the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title since the tour’s establishment in 1990. His best Grand Slam results were two semi-final runs, at the French Open in 2008 and the US Open in 2016.
Reflecting on his career, which of course was during the golden era of tennis dominated by the Big Three, Monfils expressed profound gratitude and “no regrets.”
“Believe me when I say that I have no regrets. What I do have is the feeling that I have been lucky: insanely, stupidly lucky. I’ve had the chance to play during a golden age of tennis, alongside some of the greatest names in the history of our sport: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray,” he shared.
For his final season, make sure to enjoy the last matches with this great player. The final home tournaments at Roland Garros and the Paris Masters are expected to be emotional highlights.
Monfils is married to fellow professional tennis player Elina Svitolina, and they have one daughter, Skai.
Read more about Gael Monfils and his career and racquet setup.
