Gael Monfils takes time out to watch Nadal's last Roland Garros match

French veteran tennis star Gael Monfils has taken some time out to watch the former world number Rafael Nadal’s first-round clash at the Roland Garros. The 37-year-old is often regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal has struggled with fitness concerns in recent years, and it was because of this that he announced last year that the 2024 season would be his last at the highest level. Ever since he announced his decisions, fans have been eager to see him participate one last time at Roland Garros, where he has been the most successful player in the competition’s history, lifting the title 14 times.

That moment finally arrived on Monday, when Nadal suffered a first-round exit from the mega-event after losing to Germany’s Alexander Zverev with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. Monfils was recently quoted in a report stating that he had to take time out to watch the legendary tennis player as it was impossible to miss his final appearance at the French Open. "Yes, it's important, because he's our legend,” he said. “He's everybody's legend. He's back. It's impossible not to watch him, impossible. When I say it's important, it's more than that. I know that I love him whatever happens. But I don't think there is a single tennis player who hasn’t watched Rafa. It's impossible. When I say it's important, it’s because we all respect him so much, even though we are friends with him.”