Gael Monfils has opened up about the emotional difficulty surrounding his decision to retire from professional tennis, revealing that the most challenging aspect was breaking the news to his father, Rufin. Since the very beginning of his journey in tennis, Rufin has been Monfils' unwavering supporter.
After an impressive first-round victory against Ugo Humbert at Wimbledon, Monfils faced a tough streak, losing his next five matches, with his final defeat occurring at the Chengdu Open in mid-September. Just two weeks following his loss to Alexander Shevchenko in Chengdu, the 39-year-old athlete shared via Instagram that he intends for the 2026 season to be his last on tour.
Having launched his professional career in 2004, Monfils is set to celebrate his 40th birthday in September 2026, marking a significant milestone as he officially concludes his tennis career at the age of 40.
He expressed, "For 40 years, my father has been motivated by his son who dreamed of playing tennis from a young age. Telling him about my retirement was genuinely the hardest part… I even mentioned how difficult it was to convey this news to him," he shared during an interview with RTL France (https://www.rtl.fr/sport/autres-sports/l-annoncer-a-mon-pere-ca-a-ete-le-plus-dur-sur-rtl-gael-monfils-se-confie-sur-son-depart-a-la-retraite-7900577006).
In addition to his career, Monfils, who married fellow tennis player Elina Svitolina in 2021 and welcomed their daughter Skai in 2022, acknowledged that he might have chosen to retire sooner if not for his wife’s encouragement. Nevertheless, he now feels that it is the right time to turn the page on his tennis narrative.
"I have been contemplating this for quite a while. It’s finally time for me to bid farewell to a sport that has given me so much. My passion for tennis remains strong. However, the realities of aging and recovery are becoming more pronounced. I have a family and other responsibilities now, making it increasingly challenging to maintain high levels of performance. These are just natural transitions that all athletes face; eventually, everything comes to an end," remarked the former world No. 6.
In 2025, Monfils concluded the season with a record of 18 wins and 15 losses, including a notable victory at the ATP 250 tournament in Auckland, finishing the year ranked No. 68 in the world.
