Monfils bids farewell to Roland Garros in five-set defeat
The 39-year-old, who announced his retirement at the end of the season, fought back from two sets down before succumbing to Hugo Gaston in the first round.
Gaël Monfils concluded his tenure at Roland Garros on Monday with a five-set loss to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston, marking the end of an era for the veteran player. The 39-year-old, who has been a prominent figure on the tour for two decades, announced that he will retire at the end of the current season.
The match, played during the night session at Court Philippe Chatrier, saw Monfils bid an emotional farewell to the home crowd. After falling behind 6-2, 6-3, the former world number six fought back to break Gaston in the third set and immediately broke back in the first game of the fourth, forcing a decider.
Despite the spirited comeback that drew repeated admiration from the packed centre court, Monfils’ momentum shifted in the final set. Two unforced forehands gave Gaston a 2-0 advantage, allowing the left-hander to cruise through the closing stages. The final scoreline read 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0.
Following the match, Monfils thanked the crowd, his family, and his wife, Elina Svitolina. "Every year I come to play at Roland Garros I have goosebumps... I'm going to miss you all, thank you from the bottom of my heart," he told the audience. He described the feeling of his final match at the venue as "very weird," expressing sadness for himself but joy for his opponent.
Gaston, ranked 118th, advanced to the round of 64 where he will face 25th seed Francisco Cerundolo. The defeat mirrors the earlier exit of Monfils’ longtime friend and rival, Stan Wawrinka, who also lost in Paris on Monday.
