Monfils bids farewell to Australia: "I have enjoyed every trip here"

Fernando Murciego | 20 Jan 2026 | 10.16

Monfils bids farewell to Australia: "I have enjoyed every trip here." Source: Getty

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It hasn't been the best match for Gael Monfils at the Australian Open, but it has been his last. The Frenchman, in his farewell season, fell in four sets against Sweeny and bid farewell to a special place. A place where he will never compete again, although the Frenchman closes this chapter with complete tranquility.

Hence the emotion he showed in the press room when he sat in front of the local journalists. It will be an emotion that will accompany him throughout 2026, facing each trip for the last time in his professional career. At the Australian Open, where he reached the quarterfinals on a couple of occasions, this time fate –and his fitness– prevented him from getting past the opening round. Also, his opponent, Dane Sweeny, who marked his first Grand Slam victory. Gael Monfils bids farewell to the circuit, although for now, it is the Australians who mourn him first. These were his final words.

Match Assessment

"It was a match with a great atmosphere, I knew Dane was a very good player, he loves playing in front of these crowds. The public adores him. Apart from that, we had great exchanges during the match. Of course, his way of defending must be highlighted, as well as how he has been able to interact with the people, although I was more focused on the French crowd. It was super nice to play under these conditions."

Why Did Svitolina Cut Her 2025 Schedule?

"I am happy and proud of the decision she made, of how she shared it with the fans. She was doing everything possible to get back in shape, to be well again, she had many things off the court, both being a mother and things with me as her partner. She is very strong, but there are times when the body and mind need to recharge. It was a great decision for her, but it was not easy, her family was there to tell her it was the right thing. The time off she took and the hard work in the preseason were great, that's why she won in Auckland. I hope she has two beautiful weeks here."

His Retirement Decision

"I have explained this many times already; it is a decision I made a while ago. The first time I decided to stop was during the COVID period, but then she became pregnant and I had the plantar fasciitis issue. I was about to declare it all over. It took me some time to make up my mind, but it was worth it. I am happy to have found a different path, where she took a big part of the responsibility."

Gael Monfils' Final Words at the Australian Open

"I really love playing here, this was one of my first trips. When I was young, I came here in 2003, I think I came here before going to the United States, it was very enjoyable spending time here. I have great memories in juniors, both in 2003 and 2004. Great memories and great battles from the past, not many remember, but there was an amazing match against Gilles, it was so much fun. I also had an Australian coach, so traveling here was more special since I always spent a couple of weeks here before. Everything here is a bit different, but I have enjoyed every trip here."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Monfils se despide de Australia: “He disfrutado de cada viaje aquí”