Gael Monfils gets one last Paris moment as Federer, Nadal and Djokovic honour French icon

Wednesday, 04 November 2026 at 00:30

Monfils, smiling on the court during the Adelaide International

Gael Monfils received a long-awaited farewell in Paris on Tuesday, as former rivals, tennis legends and home supporters gathered to celebrate his 22-year professional career. The 40-year-old returned to Court Central at the Paris Masters for a special ceremony, several weeks after his final competitive appearance at the US Open and an unexpectedly abrupt end to his playing days.

Monfils had hoped to finish his career on court in Paris, but his retirement came earlier than anticipated. Following his separation from Elina Svitolina and a difficult personal period, he announced his decision to step away from professional tennis in October, missing the opportunity to compete at the tournament one last time.

The ceremony brought together an impressive collection of tennis figures. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic sent messages, while Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton were among the current players who paid tribute. Former French teammates Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet and Benoit Paire also attended.

However, the evening's most personal moment came when Monfils spoke about his four-year-old daughter, Skai. His account of their conversations, including her ambition to become a champion, provided a touching conclusion to a night celebrating one of French tennis's most entertaining figures.

"Twenty-two years of an extraordinary story"

Dressed in a cream-coloured jacket and grey trousers, Monfils entered Court Central to a warm ovation. He was welcomed by French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton and tournament director Cédric Pioline before addressing the supporters who had followed him throughout his career.

The Frenchman admitted that returning without a racket and saying goodbye in person had initially seemed almost impossible. He thanked Moretton and Pioline for helping him overcome his concerns about attending the ceremony. “I thought it would be insurmountable to come and say goodbye to you, looking you in the eyes.”

Monfils also acknowledged the difficult personal circumstances surrounding his retirement. Taking several weeks away from tennis had allowed him to reflect on his achievements and find peace with the career he had built.

“I went through a more complicated period personally,” he said, thanking the tournament director and FFT president for helping him “overcome all my fears, all my worries” about appearing in public one last time.

“I was able to sit down for a few weeks, I won’t hide it, weeks that were a bit more painful, but I was able to sit down and really look back at the images, to see what I was able to achieve. I gave everything. I’m really happy, really at peace with everything I was able to do.”

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He then turned his attention to the Paris crowd, describing their support as one of the greatest gifts tennis had given him.

“I’m not going to hide that this is a very difficult moment to say goodbye. The most beautiful thing that this world has given me is you, the wonderful crowd. It’s not easy at all, but I would really like to thank you all.

“Twenty-two years now that I’ve been a professional tennis player. Twenty-two years of an extraordinary story that I could have never dreamed of. I want to thank everyone, whether they are here or at home, because it’s because of you that I could realise my dream.”

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic among stars paying tribute

The tributes reflected the respect Monfils earned across different generations. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were among the former world No. 1s who sent messages, while Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverev and Shelton represented the younger players who had grown up watching the Frenchman's spectacular style.

Alcaraz highlighted Monfils' influence beyond the court, praising both his athletic ability and personality. “Gael, thank you for everything. For me, you were a true inspiration, a great athlete. Most important thing, a great person off the court. That is why you are a great inspiration for the young talent. Thank you very much and we will miss you.”

Zverev, who faced Monfils four times on the ATP Tour, described him as an entertainer whose performances regularly produced unforgettable moments. “Thanks for everything you have done. For me, you're an absolute magician, the highlight reel on the court and somebody that everybody enjoyed watching for the past twenty-plus years.”

Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur also shared messages. The presence of Tsonga, Simon, Gasquet and Paire added another dimension to the occasion, reuniting several members of the French generation that shared the court with Monfils.

Monfils' 13 titles and 588 victories mark a remarkable career

Monfils leaves professional tennis with 13 ATP Tour titles, 22 additional finals and 588 tour-level match victories. He reached a career-high No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016 and recorded 146 Masters 1000 wins, the most by a French player.

He also reached the semi-finals at Roland-Garros in 2008 and the US Open in 2016. At the Paris Masters, he finished runner-up in consecutive editions in 2009 and 2010.

His statistics, however, only partly explain his popularity. Monfils became one of the most recognisable players of his generation through his extraordinary athleticism, spectacular defensive shots and willingness to entertain. His ability to turn seemingly lost points into memorable highlights made him a favourite among spectators around the world.

His final tour-level appearance came at the 2026 US Open, where he lost to Learner Tien in the second round. Having achieved his goal of remaining on the professional circuit until the age of 40, he can now look back on a career spanning more than two decades.

Gael Monfils sliding to hit the ball at Roland Garros 2025

Monfils shares touching message to daughter Skai

The most personal moment of the ceremony came when Monfils spoke about his daughter. The four-year-old had apparently complained that her father did not talk about her enough, giving him an opportunity to share their conversation with the Paris crowd.

“My little girl Skaï wanted me to talk about her because she told me: 'You don't talk about me enough, Daddy.' And she's only four years old! So Skaï, if you're watching this, here I am talking about you. Maybe you'll see it someday down the line.”

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Monfils recalled how Skai had asked why so many people were approaching him to say hello. He explained that it was because her father was kind and encouraged her to behave in the same way. The conversation soon turned towards her own ambitions.

“She asked me why people were coming up to say hi to me, and I told her it was because Daddy is very kind and she had to be kind too. She replied that she was going to be very kind as well. Then she told me she wanted to be a champion.

“I asked her what she wanted to be a champion in, and she said: 'Everything.' I told her she'd have to choose, and the first thing she blurted out was: 'I want to be a champion of talking.' Then she thought about it and told me she'd like to be a tennis champion, so she's definitely got the right stuff for it.”

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He also revealed that Skai had wanted to dedicate his final match to her father. Monfils pointed out that November 3 marked eight years since the beginning of his relationship with Svitolina, making the date particularly symbolic for the family.

“She wanted to dedicate this last match to her daddy. It was in Paris, on November 3, 2026. As an anecdote, today marks exactly 8 years since I was with your mom, so it's a very symbolic date for the family.”

He concluded by addressing Skai directly, recalling his own childhood in Paris and expressing the hope that she might one day play on the same court.

“Skai, your daddy was a tennis player, he loved tennis, he grew up in Paris and had an amazing crowd. I hope with all my heart that you become a champion in whatever you choose, and hopefully one day you can play here in Paris.”

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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