"There’s not a single thing I’d change in my career" - Gael Monfils looks blissfully back on tremendous career ahead of final Roland Garros outing

Tonight, Gael Monfils may play his last match at Roland Garros. What is guaranteed is that this will be his last French Open with it one of the major stops on his farewell tour. He will take on fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston on Court Philippe Chatrier as he looks to bow out in style.

Before taking to the court, he sat down with the 2026 Roland-Garros Magazine and spoke on a variety of topics. From his first steps at Roland Garros, competing against the best players of his generation and life after tennis ahead of his final venture at this iconic tournament.

"I just want to be myself. I want to be able to compete, play a good game or three, or perhaps more if I dare dream."

Monfils took the time to reminisce back to his childhood. "My earliest tennis memory would have to be the Paris Championships," he recalled. "I can’t remember which year it was, but I must have been 9 or 10. I remember playing on the outside courts, and back then I thought it was huge."

There was another one which he holds close to his heart. "Another early memory that sticks in my mind was when I asked for my first autograph at the tournament. I went up to the American David Wheaton and asked him for a signature, but he’d just walked out onto the court. He told me he’d do it after the match and he did. I was crazy happy! If I’m honest, I didn’t know who he was, but I remembered his name after that."

He continued to live in the past as he stated some of his fondest memories. "I would have to start with my earliest memory, back in 2005. I lost 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 against Guillermo Cañas but stepping out onto Suzanne-Lenglen for the first time was truly exceptional, an incredible experience. After that, for sure, I played a great many matches with unbelievable scenarios. In 2006, I won three consecutive five-set matches against Andy Murray, Dick Norman and James Blake. It was fantastic, I loved it. In 2007, I went up against David Nalbandian on Philippe-Chatrier, he was a hero of mine. Our match was something else, and it was the only time he beat me."

The main one was when he reached the semi-finals back in 2008. "But 2008 was my best year, when I notched up victories against Melzer, Ljubicic and Ferrer before I was knocked out by Rog’ [Federer] in the semi-finals. I lost many times to Roger, but I always really enjoyed playing him. I also remember another, rather strange match, as night was falling on Philippe-Chatrier against Fabio Fognini in 2010.

"We played each other again on Suzanne-Lenglen in 2014, a huge five-setter. It was crazy. And I can’t forget that victory after playing for four hours against David Ferrer in 2011, he was always a tough opponent, and even more so at Roland-Garros, the atmosphere was exceptional. The atmosphere when I played here was always exceptional. Even in recent years, Sebastian Baez, of course [first-round victory in 2023] and last year against Dellien and Draper. Some great matches, just the kind we like to see."

"Honestly, I think 'wow'," Monfils exclaimed, in awe of everything he had achieved in two decades competing at the highest level.

"Never in my life had I imagined achieving all this. It all started with a dream, an ambition... Behind all that, there was a lot of work and a great deal of sacrifice. But not only by myself, my parents especially. It’s thanks to them that I’m where I am today. They made this little guy who wanted to play tennis, and they did everything they could to give me the best opportunity. More than my career, it’s everything that my parents did for me that’s incredible. I owe them everything."

While the road was not always the smoothest, the 39-year-old seems to remember the good bits. "It doesn’t seem smooth, but it is really when you remember that growing up you have other dreams and ambitions," he said. "At the end of the day, all I’ve ever wanted to be was an elite athlete. You sometimes get hungrier, dream higher, push yourself further. Yes, as a professional athlete, there are ups and downs, tough times, times when, as a younger man, you don’t always understand, you don’t make the best decisions, you think differently. Sometimes, you have to hit the wall to be able to pick yourself back up again. Experiencing things for yourself, that’s what forges your character and who you become later in life. I’m so proud of my career."

He played in an era dominated by the 'Big Three' made up of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He endured some brilliant battles with them, in awe of the standard of tennis they regularly produce on court.

"I was incredibly lucky to have played against those three legends, to have spent time with them, to have tried to measure up to them," he commented. "It’s something I’m truly very proud of. The one who caused me the most problems, hands down, was Novak. Novak on the ATP tour, because I beat him in Futures but never on the ATP. What he’s achieved, what he always achieves, is fantastic. He’s writing his own history in an incredible way. To have played alongside him is just exceptional. I really admire him."

Nadal especially was dominant at Roland Garros, winning 14 titles. However, he had all three very highly esteemed. "I really admire all three of them, Novak, Rafa and Roger. They had different careers, but they all managed to take tennis to an exceptional level. I really loved watching them play, spending time with them, trying to hold my own against them, and you can’t deny it, it was amazing to watch them play each other. It was always breathtaking for us athletes to watch such unbelievable legends go up against each other. So I’d like to thank them for these exceptional clashes."

This has been his entire life, but soon he will hang up his racket for good and attempt to live a fulfilling life away from the court. He had made peace with the fact he could not compete forever. "Everything has to come to an end at some point, and that’s just how it goes," he acknowledged.

"If I’m honest, I’d say ‘everything’. Ever since being a kid, your life is all mapped out, you follow your routine. And that routine will change, the preparation, the tournaments, the courts, the fans, the coaches, the friends you make on the tour... Of course, I’ll keep in touch with some of them, because we’re kind of like one big family. I don’t really know what I’ll miss about it all. But obviously everything, because it’s the most incredible thing to have happened to me in my life. I prefer to wait and see so I can give a proper answer. Ask me again next year!"

In over 20 years on the court, he has gone from an exciting young talent to a highly respected and experienced player many not just know, but cherish. He has obviously changed a lot as a person on and off the court.

"Yes, of course, it changes everyone, whether you’re an athlete or not. I first joined the tour in 2005, I was only just 18 when I stepped out for the first time at Roland-Garros, and now I’m nearly 40, so a lot has changed," he said, going on to discuss his relationship with his wife and fellow tennis player Elina Svitolina.

"With Elina [Svitolina], I guess you could say we suit each other really well. People think about tennis, but we’re people first and foremost. We suit each other as people. We do the same job, but that hasn’t really helped our relationship, where we’re just two people. And that’s the most important thing. It’s true that sharing the same project means we can understand each other more easily.

"But in the second part of our relationship, Elina and I are parents, there’s our little girl, who doesn’t know anything about tennis. That’s why I say it really goes back to being just people. We have a child together, we’re very happy, and we’re growing as parents. We need to make the right decisions so our family is happy, and so everyone can find their place from a professional point of view, but especially so our daughter, who is at the centre of all this, so she feels happy and secure."

The Frenchman has already figured out the next stage in life, distancing himself away from the tennis court. "I’ve always said that I wanted to work in finance. I’ve been interested in it for a long time. I’ve already been lucky enough to have a bit of experience in finance outside tennis, and I’ve met a few people from this world. I could see myself becoming a wealth manager and taking training courses to find my place and start this new chapter in my life."

However, tennis will never fully be banished. "Tennis will always be part of my life. In this second chapter of my life, I think there will be several paragraphs on tennis, but I don’t know exactly where they will come in. It’ll never be too far, as my wife still plays. Will I go and watch her play all the time? I’ll perhaps attend a few tournaments, if there’s a golf course nearby as I’ve started to play a bit. If a tournament isn’t too far from home, and it falls during the school holidays, if my wife wants me and my daughter to come and watch her, and that fits with my job, I will go and watch."

Finally, he was asked that if he could speak to his old self, what advice would he offer. "I wouldn’t say anything at all, because there’s not a single thing I’d change in my career. I’m happy in my life today and that is thanks to everything I’ve been through over the years," he concluded.