Gael Monfils is Hanging Up His Racket, and Tennis Will Be Worse For It
Another legend is getting ready to call it a day. Gaël Monfils, the man who brought more flair and acrobatic absurdity to tennis than anyone since… well, ever, has announced he’s retiring at the end of the 2026 season. And frankly, the sport is about to get a whole lot more boring.
The French showman, who will turn 40 next year, decided that two more seasons of sliding around on clay, diving for impossible shots, and generally defying physics is enough. He plans to bow out after one last run at his home tournaments, Roland Garros and the Paris Masters. Can you imagine the scenes? The Parisian crowd is going to lose its collective mind.
In an era completely suffocated by the relentless, machine-like perfection of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, Monfils was a breath of fresh, chaotic air. He was the human highlight reel, the guy you’d stop scrolling to watch because you never knew what he’d do next. A between-the-legs winner? A 360-degree smash? A slide that covered half the court only to end in a delicate drop shot? It was all on the table with Monfils.
The Bittersweet Legacy of “The Showman”
Let’s get one thing straight: calling Monfils just a “showman” is a massive disservice. Yes, he was entertaining, but the man could play. We’re talking about a former world No. 6, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, and the winner of 13 ATP Tour titles. He even became the oldest player to win an ATP title in January at 38 years old, snatching the record from none other than Roger Federer. So yeah, the guy had game.
But the “what ifs” will always linger. What if he hadn’t been so plagued by injuries? What if he had been a little more… conventional? In his retirement announcement, Monfils addressed this head-on. “‘You could have, you should have…’ As those who know me can attest, I’ve never thought this way, and frankly, I’m far too old to start doing so now. Life is too short.”
And you have to respect that. He played during the golden age, battling the “Big Three” and Andy Murray. He admitted losing to legends “feels epic,” and he has zero regrets. He played tennis his way, with a joy that was infectious. That joy wasn’t a performance for the crowd; it was pure, unadulterated passion spilling out of him. The “show” was just what happened when his energy connected with the fans. It was a circuit of pure thrill.
Why Monfils’ Retirement Hits Different
So why does this one feel so different from other retirements? Because Monfils represented something more than just wins and losses. He was the embodiment of athletic artistry. In a sport that often demands discipline and tactical rigidity, he was a free spirit. He reminded us that at its core, sports are supposed to be fun. He played with a smile, a wink, and an explosive energy that made every match an event.
His career wasn’t defined by Grand Slam trophies, and that’s okay. It was defined by the moments that made you say, “Did you just see that?!” It was defined by the gasps from the crowd, the impossible gets, and the sheer audacity of his shot-making. He was the player who could lose a match but still be the one everyone was talking about afterward.
Now, as he prepares for his farewell tour, married to fellow tennis star Elina Svitolina and a father to their daughter, Skai, he’s at peace. His final goal isn’t some fairytale Grand Slam win. It’s simpler and far more poignant: “To enjoy every minute, and to play each match like it’s my last.”
Get ready for one last show. Tennis won’t be the same without Gaël Monfils.
