Monfils' great response when asked about his legacy in tennis: "Time will tell everything"

Gaël Monfils has entertained our tennis nights over the past two decades. His privileged physique and ability to win over the crowd have stood out greatly, but they are by no means the only virtues of a model of professionalism, work ethic, consistency, and longevity. There are just a couple of months left to bid him farewell with honors, but the final stops on his journey become rivers of emotions, with a controlled nostalgia that grows stronger in the places where he left a deeper mark.

One of them, without a doubt, is the US Open. The magic of night sessions, the splendor of New York, the warm and 'spicy' atmosphere of the early hours of the morning... ingredients that perfectly match what Monfils represents, a player for whom form has always been as important as substance. It was the perfect place to say goodbye in a Grand Slam style, and before facing his last adventure in Flushing Meadows, the Frenchman answered the press's questions with the humility that characterizes him.

What is Gaël Monfils' legacy? His answer demonstrates his great humility

When a journey comes to an end, one of the most repeated exercises by the public is to look back and think about how they got here. What example does a player leave for future generations? What is his mark? Many players do not hesitate to answer this question, highlighting aspects such as their role as a person, their style of play, or their values... but Monfils has a different approach, one in which he is by no means the protagonist.

"My legacy? I don't know, to be honest. The truth is that I don't know. I think I will see my legacy in the coming years. I always have the same answer: 'Time will tell everything.' When it passes, I will evaluate, whatever my legacy might be," the Frenchman stated proudly, avoiding grandiloquent adjectives and showing that the public's perception of him will not be influenced by his words at any time.

GAEL MONFILS SUPERHUMANNESS 🦸‍♂️

One of the craziest defensive displays you'll ever see! pic.twitter.com/lrhtISD9LS

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2026

Monfils referred to Arthur Fils and called him "his little brother"

If French tennis has been in fashion in recent months, it is largely thanks to the spectacular rise of Arthur Fils. Recently crowned champion in Cincinnati, many have set their sights on him to become the successor to the golden generation of French tennis in the 21st century. Few know him better than Gaël, who has given numerous pieces of advice to his good friend, whom he calls "little brother" and spoke about at length and from the heart.

"I met him when he was practically a kid. It was thanks to my sister, who is a year younger than him and used to sleep at Roland Garros, where he trained with a scholarship. When I met him, he was about 15 or 16 years old. The first time we practiced together was when he was 16 or 17, also at Roland Garros, with Giovanni (Mpetshi Perricard). We have always maintained a great bond; we talk a lot. We have shared moments on and off the court. I feel that we share many aspects of our paths, so we became very close. I always say: my support means that he can feel free to ask me whenever he needs anything.

He is a very kind, very respectful guy. I get along great with his father; he has a wonderful family around him; I also met his mother. They are a very humble family. Arthur is aware of where he comes from, all the sacrifices his parents made for him to become a tennis player, so he has great values. I feel that he is like my little brother, just as my sister is: they are young; life is something new for them; it amuses me to see how they think. He makes me laugh a lot; he's young, has fresh ideas. It’s great to always be around him."

Monfils also spoke about the retirement of another generational peer, Kei Nishikori

One of the most underrated rivalries on the tennis circuit in recent times was that of Gaël and Kei Nishikori: great battles with dramatic finishes. Both are retiring at the end of this season, so it’s no coincidence that the Frenchman was asked about his contemporary: "We have talked a lot this year. I loved his playing style. I loved facing him; we have had incredible battles. He was always a very tough opponent. He beat me twice with match points for me, and I beat him once with match points for him; it’s funny. There’s one that hurts me much more, in the Olympics; I lost in the quarterfinals to him, and he took home a medal.

We have somewhat grown in the circuit together. He was always a very dangerous player, someone who could beat anyone on any surface. I loved the way he played. He was one of the first to have a super-aggressive style, returning serve exceptionally well. His footwork was insane. A fantastic guy. At first, he was a bit shy, but then he grew and became quite fun. We have spent many years together, and I think he’s great."

How does Monfils approach his last Grand Slam?

The million-dollar question: does he feel this tournament differently? Will we see the same Gaël as always? Even for someone as lively as he is, it is challenging to hide the emotions evoked by saying goodbye to Grand Slam tennis. "It’s great, but different. It’s distinct. At Roland Garros, I had a really hard time; emotionally, it was very complicated. I gained some experience to help me with this tournament, but I know it will be special. It’s the last one. I will turn 40 on the day of my match; it’s a significant milestone for me, being able to play until 40. I want to do not just well, but very well for the place I’m in right now. I’ve done an immense amount of work both on and off the court to get to my best level by Tuesday. This is a game: I will give it my all, and let’s see what happens." Stand up and bid farewell to a genius of this sport with honors.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La gran respuesta de Monfils al hablar sobre su huella en el tenis: "El tiempo lo dirá todo"