(VIDEO) Elina Svitolina emotional in the stands as Gael Monfils bids farewell to Roland Garros in ‘Gael and Friends’ event

Gael Monfils is set to bow out at Roland Garros one final time. The French tennis icon will compete at his home Grand Slam for a 19th time in a career that has spanned over two decades but will shortly be coming to an end. He was given a farewell ahead of the tournament beginning on Court Philippe-Chatrier. It proved to be too emotional for some, with his wife Elina Svitolina proudly watching on as many tennis talents came along to pay tribute to Monfils.

The 39-year-old made the decision that 2026 will be his last on tour. For years he marvelled on the court wherever he went, a joy to watch for many with his flamboyant and showman style on court which caught the attention of the fans and made him a crowd favourite.

He will be hoping to do that just one more time in Paris as he bids the tournament an emotional farewell. His first tie will be against fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston.

The French Open officials created ‘Gael and Friends’ event. It celebrated the career of Monfils as they showed off and remembered his career and for a good cause with money being raised for federation-linked charities.

The event had a high-class list of tennis talents appearing as guests. This ranged from ATP and WTA players like Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Sorana Cîrstea, Maria Sakkari, Belinda Bencic, and Taylor Townsend.

They would participate in a fun mixed doubles exhibition. Monfils would team up with his wife and recent Rome Open champion Svitolina, facing off against Djokovic and Sakkari. They would end up winning the match with the 24-time Grand Slam champion offering a big hug and a few nice words to Monfils.

After the matches, Monfils made a heart-warming speech. “Once again, thanks to you all for everything you’ve given me over the years," he said. "It’s been a dream of my life. It was always a dream of mine, an objective, a goal. I’ve always given my absolute most. I was never quite good enough to win a Grand Slam. But maybe I won something more important than that: a tennis career I’m proud of.”

He was eternally grateful to his family. “We forget sometimes all the sacrifices that you have to go through to get where we are. People talk a lot, but my family knows what it cost, all the sacrifices they made for me. Thank you, Mum and Dad. We love you. If I’m here today, it’s thanks to you, too.”

Retired pros Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet joined Monfils on court. Once making up a golden generation of French tennis, the 'New Musketeers' as they were labelled included those three and Giles Simon. It was a brilliant time for French tennis, but that baton has been passed down to the next generation. The likes of Arthur Fils have got French tennis in safe hands.

It was a hugely emotional night for everyone involved, and that obviously included Svitolina. They met in 2018 before beginning to date in 2019. They have since got married and had their first child, a daughter named Skai. They have learned to balance their lives as a tennis player while being parents at the same time.

Monfils has had more chance in recent times to be at home while Svitolina tears it up on the WTA Tour. She has begun the year in blistering form, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open before losing in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Most recently, she was crowned as the Rome Open champion for a third time after getting the better of Coco Gauff in three sets.

She was watching on in the stands like a lot of people, embracing the love and support her husband was receiving as they recalled his brilliant career. Similar to Monfils' parents, she was also pictured as very emotional, watching on with immense pride.

Monfils has enjoyed some career. Specifically at Roland Garros, he is a four-time quarter-finalist, achieving a best result of a semi-final back in 2008. He has not made it past the fourth round since 2019, and will be dearly hoping to get some wins on the boards as he is set to step out onto court one final time on the clay courts of Roland Garros.