The man, the myth, LAMONF!
The curtains are set to close on one of the longest running showstoppers in tennis history next year. Gael Monfils has announced he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season.
The 39-year-old Frenchman, one of the most adored and electrifying stars that the ATP Tour has ever seen, announced the news on Wednesday.
A fixture on tour and a massive fan favorite since his tour debut in 2004, the former World No. 6 has racked up 13 ATP titles but more important: innumerable must-see moments that showcased his otherworldly athleticism, sportsmanship, humor and grace.
He broke the news across social media on Wednesday morning October 1, saying:
“An exciting new generation of players is already here and I hope they’ll enjoy their time on court as much as I have for the last two decades.”
In truth, it’s hard to imagine anybody enjoying the game as much as Monfils did.
His passion, his flair for the dramatic, creativity and limitless imagination were always on full display as he brought joy to the tennis world in a way that very few players have done before.
An acrobatic showman who could drop jaws with remarkable regularity, Monfils plans to play a full season next year and retire at the end, which means he’ll likely call it quits on home soil at the Paris masters.
Along the way, there are sure to be tears of joy at every tour stop that he makes. Still ranked 53 in the world, Monfils had been extremely competitive for his age of late.
The Parisian wizard will turn 40 next September 1.
“When you love something so much it never feels like a good time to say goodbye,” Monfils wrote on social media. “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.”
