Monfils: "My aspiration now is to compete at 40 years old"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 26 May 2026 | 08.35

Gael Monfils, statements at Roland Garros 2026. Photo: gettyimages

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Gael Monfils experienced one of the most emotional nights of his entire career at Roland Garros 2026. In his last match on the Philippe-Chatrier court as a professional player in Paris, Monfils fell after an enormous battle against Hugo Gaston, but he ended up bidding farewell amidst tears, applause, and an absolutely unforgettable atmosphere for French tennis.

Following the match, Gael Monfils held a press conference filled with emotion, honesty, and humor. The Frenchman talked about how difficult it was to control his emotions during the match, explained how he envisions his last months as a professional, and shared beautiful thoughts about his family, his daughter, Elina Svitolina, and the legacy he would like to leave within the ATP circuit.

Here is Gael Monfils' emotion after bidding farewell to Roland Garros

The most emotionally challenging moment on the court

"The first two points when I was serving at 5-0, I was still completely focused on the match. Then, it started to be something different. At 0-30, I began to realize that maybe there were only two points left, and everything started to become quite chaotic in my mind."

The difficulty of controlling emotions

"It's a very strange feeling because throughout the match, I tried to completely block my emotions. Deep down, it was very tough emotionally for me, and that's why I tried not to let out too much of what I was feeling. I think tonight is going to be quite challenging. Right now, I feel a huge mix of happiness, sadness, and many different emotions all at once. It's very hard to explain."

How he managed to react during the match

"When I stepped onto the court, I felt something completely different from any other match in my career. It wasn't a normal match for me, and honestly, I needed time to reconnect with myself. Hugo was playing incredibly well at the beginning, and I had to regain control of my mind, my body, and my feelings. Gradually, I started hitting better, being more patient, and having a much clearer tactical vision of what I wanted to do."

The incredible memory this last Roland Garros leaves him

"Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined a farewell like this. Everything I experienced between Thursday's tribute and this match will be etched in my memory forever. It was a completely incredible opportunity, and I feel tremendously fortunate to have lived something like this. All of this will remain in my heart forever."

Emotionally facing the end of his career

"I actually think I accepted retirement from the moment I announced I was going to stop. The hard part is all the accumulated tension, all the emotional preparation, and waiting I had to do to reach this moment. It had been a long time since I played that much, and all this preparation was very emotionally draining. When all this adrenaline fades away, it probably won't be easy."

The crucial support from Elina and his daughter

"Luckily, I have a lot of support at home from Elina and my entire family. Tonight, I will probably be with her, and tomorrow most likely with my daughter. All of that will help me feel much better."

The beautiful relationship with his daughter

"My daughter still doesn't really understand everything that's happening, and that's something beautiful. Yesterday, I told her, 'Daddy is going to play a match and then come back home.' I even jokingly asked her if she wanted me to come back tomorrow, and she immediately replied yes. With Elina, we always try to shield her a bit from all of this. She knows that mommy and daddy play tennis, but not much more."

"After the match, I talked to Elina about a beautiful letter she wrote, and I told her that we will probably keep it for our daughter to read when she's ten or eleven and can truly understand who her parents were."

His deep affection for Hugo Gaston

"I know perfectly well that Hugo appreciates me a lot, and we always get along very well. We've been training a lot together lately, and I know that for him, too, it wasn't easy to eliminate me on a night like this. Honestly, losing to someone you appreciate so much makes it much easier to accept everything. I truly hope he can recover well now and move forward because he played two incredible first sets."

The tournaments he wants to play before retiring

"My agent Nicolas wants me to keep playing many tournaments. He requested a wildcard for Wimbledon, and we'll see what happens, although I honestly believe there are other players who may deserve it more than me. We also have to decide if we will play in Washington because Dani offered us an invitation."

"I also want to bid farewell to Montreal, and then I will likely return to Europe because my daughter will start school this year, and I want to be there for that. I also hope to receive a wildcard for the US Open."

His desire to play until he's 40 years old

"I have a big goal: I want to keep playing until I'm 40 years old. Unfortunately, I was born in September, so I'll have to hold on a bit longer. I want to follow the example of athletes like Stan Wawrinka, LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Patrice Evra, who managed to compete at the highest level until that age. Whatever happens this summer, I'll keep training a lot."

What he wants people to remember about him

"I honestly believe that each person will remember what they want to remember. I simply was myself from start to finish. I don't need to be remembered for something specific. Maybe I just would like people to think of me as a cheerful and approachable person."

After an unforgettable farewell at Roland Garros 2026, the unique and incomparable Gael Monfils once again demonstrated why he is one of the most beloved figures of an entire generation. The Frenchman left the Philippe-Chatrier court amidst tears and applause, making it clear that his legacy goes far beyond results: entertainment, charisma, and an irreplaceable connection with the audience.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Monfils: "Mi ilusión ahora es competir con 40 años"