Monfils confirms 2026 retirement after final Roland Garros appearance

French tennis player Gaël Monfils has confirmed he will retire at the end of the 2026 season, following his first-round defeat by compatriot Hugo Gaston at the French Open. The 39-year-old, who turns 40 in September, received a standing ovation at Roland Garros, marking the conclusion of his 19th and final appearance at the tournament.

Monfils stated his intention to emulate athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James by continuing his career into his 40s. He described himself as "locked in to train" and outlined a schedule that includes Wimbledon, the Montreal tournament, and the US Open before concluding his career at the Paris Masters in November.

The match against Gaston ended with a score of 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0. Monfils acknowledged that the clay surface has become more challenging in recent years, yet he remains determined to manage his body through the remainder of the season. He expressed a specific desire to say goodbye to the Montreal tournament and has indicated plans to play in the new Lyon tournament, as well as potentially Vienna and the Paris Masters.

While Monfils aims to secure a wildcard for the US Open from the French Tennis Federation, his participation in other events remains subject to confirmation. He described his plans for the Asian tour as "a bit blurry" and noted uncertainty regarding a potential appearance in Washington. His agent, Nicolas, has expressed interest in a Vienna appearance, though Monfils characterised his attendance at the year-end events as "hopefully" rather than confirmed.

Monfils, who reached a career-high ranking of world number six in 2016, is a 13-time ATP title winner, including three ATP 500 events. He previously reached the French Open semifinals in 2008 and was a key member of France’s Davis Cup teams in 2010 and 2014. His announcement marks the end of a two-decade professional career.