By Fatma Younis
French tennis star Gael Monfils received a rousing send-off at the Paris Masters on Wednesday as the tournament honored his 22-year professional career in a special ceremony.
Ceremony Honors Flamboyant Frenchman
Monfils, known for his athletic shot-making and entertaining personality, had initially planned to retire with a final appearance in the Paris draw but quietly stepped away last month amid the breakdown of his marriage to Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina. Instead, the tournament organized a tribute featuring compatriots and fellow fan favorites Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet, and Benoit Paire.
Monfils Reflects on Career and Family
In an emotional speech, the 40-year-old told the crowd: “I'm not going to hide that this is a very difficult moment to say goodbye. The most beautiful thing that this world has given me is you, the wonderful crowd.” He thanked fans for enabling his dream over two decades and addressed his young daughter Skai, born in 2022, saying: “Skai, your father was a tennis player. He loved tennis. He grew up in Paris, where he had a magnificent crowd behind him. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that you will become a great champion in everything you do and that, one day, you will play here in Paris.”
Career Highlights and Future Plans
Monfils won 13 ATP Tour singles titles, capturing his first in Poland in 2005 and his last in Auckland in January 2025, becoming the oldest man on tour to win a title. His best Grand Slam results were semifinal runs at the 2008 French Open and the 2016 US Open, and he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 6. His Grand Slam career ended at this year's US Open with a second-round loss to American Learner Tien. Monfils is set to participate in an exhibition marking fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka's retirement in Geneva in December, alongside Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
