Gael Monfils set to make surprise career switch after playing his final ever US Open match

Gael Monfils has played his final ever Grand Slam match. The flamboyant Frenchman bowed out with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 against Learner Tien in the second round of the US Open. He would go on to explain his future ambitions, making a surprise confession about his next job away from tennis.

Speaking in his press conference, he was overjoyed by the occasion while offering his flowers to his opponents. "It was an unbelievable atmosphere," he said. "You know, amazing energy on the court. It was really nice. You always want to give a little bit more, you know, you want to stay there a little bit more. I gave my absolute all. Even, I think, I went over [my limits].

"Learner was a really tough one tonight. Really big credit to him. He really held his focus, you know, with the atmosphere and everything. So, a big congrats to him."

After the match, a special ceremony occurred where Monfils enjoyed a montage in all his 18 US Open campaigns, with his latest one the last. "It was really nice," Monfils commented. "My first match against Novak was in 2005, but, as I say, even looking at this montage, I was thinking, you know, even in juniors when I came here first, and then seeing the difference in the colour of the courts and everything."

It was a great trip down memory lane. "It was really nice, and it reminds me actually how many matches that I played here and how many amazing atmospheres that I had, because they showed great matches with a ton of points and memories. Really nice."

One of the most popular players on the tour, Monfils has been entertaining tennis fans for the best part of two decades. His sheer quality on the court mixed with some showmanship got the crowd on the edge of their seats with some incredible shots and moments regularly cropping up through his decorated career.

The fans will remember him fondly, but the Frenchman is not sure how he wants to be remembered. "Honestly, I don't know. You know, the way they want to, to be honest. The way they want. I'm just me," he stated.

"Yeah, I'm obviously—I think I've been the same since I came on Tour, with a lot of joy. And then I feel like you don't have to tell anyone how they want to remember you. You know, I think some people might like me, some not. Some people think I'm fun, some not. Some people think that I entertain them, some maybe not. So I'm alright with everything, to be honest. I'm just happy that I know that the most important for me is how my family lived all these years and how they will remember it. And that was unbelievable. That was the most important for me."

His tennis career is not done yet, but this feels like a major milestone ticked off the farewell tour with one of the final headline shows done and dusted. When his does finish his career, he will then need to adapt to his new life.

Monfils was asked how he is processing going over the finishing line. "I try to handle it in a way that, when you take the decision, you take the decision and then you live with it," he said. "I think for many athletes, one side that I think also helps us maybe to succeed is to make choices, and this one is a big one. Maybe the biggest because it's the last one.

But, let's say you've trained your mind and your obsession for your sport, you know, through so many years. So then when you call it [a career], for myself, it was easier, to be honest. It was easier. As I say, it was just really tough for me a couple of weeks ago in Paris—I mean, a couple of months ago now. It was really tough because you don't really know what to expect and how you will really react."

This affected his performances this year. "It was a little bit tougher for me to handle my emotions and play and perform, because I said that I wanted to say goodbye but be able to perform well. In Paris it was a little bit tougher. But I felt like I learned a lot, and then I was much better and much easier for me to handle it here, because here it was a big one, a very important one, and I was super happy that I could actually be here."

Most tennis players who retire tend to stay in the sport in some sense. Whether that is as a coach or a pundit or through a business role. Monfils has taken a completely different path to what many expected, not wanting to continue working in tennis with something else catching his eye.

"So far, to be honest, I have a new chapter coming next year. I will work in finance," he confirmed. "You know, I've already signed to work in wealth management in a Swiss company. So my next chapter is looking more in the office and working in finance."

Tennis will still be a big part of his life with his wife, Elina Svitolina, still competing at the highest level. "I will always have a look on tennis because I love the sport. My wife is playing. I don't think, you know, at least next year, I will do so much about tennis. But, you know, I'll be around definitely, no matter what, for Elina a little bit, but I'll be more a finance guy."

His personality and style usually showcased on court is surprisingly not always translated into his personal life. "Somehow, you know, and I think you should ask my wife. You'll be very surprised. Of course, in tennis I am the way I am, but I think she can tell you that she wishes I'd be like this at home, you know.

"I think at home I'm a little bit more strict, more serious. You know, completely different. Here, you know, it's my joy place where I can let my emotions go. And then, you know, I'm pretty—it's tough to say—but I'm really not flexible in a way that I really like everything done straight away, and a little bit manic. So if it's that for sure for my next chapter, Denise is just completely different."

He confirmed that he had signed a contract with Alpha Suisse. "I'm going to make a post on that, but I can tell you that I'm going to be the manager of fortune in a Swiss company."

It is something that he is going to jump straight into, no break needed as he also focuses on being a dad. "Honestly, it's something that I'm passionate about. Something that I've been doing for quite a few years. I didn't have any [doubt]. I think I told you that I did internships when I could. No, I want to stay active. I'm going to stay active. My little girl is going back to school, so I need an active dad."