Monfils surprises the world by opting out of competing in Lyon and Paris
Widespread shock. That is what seeing Gael Monfils on the list of officially retired players provided by the ITIA has caused. According to current regulations, any tennis player on that list will not be able to compete officially in a single match again, as it means their exit from the entire anti-doping system.
Although it was known that this would be Monfils' last season in professional tennis, his initial plans were to compete in the ATP 250 Lyon 2026 and the ATP Masters 1000 Paris 2026, aiming to have a farewell celebration and say goodbye to his fans, as a tennis icon like him deserves after two decades in the sport.
Gael Monfils won’t play the Paris Masters. His last tournament was the US Open.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 13, 2026
However, this news leaves no room for doubt. Gael Monfils’ last match as a professional tennis player will be the one he lost at the US Open against Learner Tien. There is no official confirmation or any explanation from the player regarding this change of course, and the two tournaments affected by this decision have also not commented.
As he announced in the press conference following the US Open, Gael Monfils will begin working in a financial consultancy, marking one of the most surprising career changes in tennis history. His tennis legacy will remain eternal, having been one of the most influential players in the recent history of tennis.
MONFILS SE RETIRA POR SORPRESA ‼️ Aunque tenía previsto decir adiós al tenis en el M1000 de París, el francés aparece ya en la lista de retirados desde el pasado 5 de octubre. Ahora, se dedicará a trabajar en el mundo de las finanzas, en una empresa suiza. 💰 🧾 https://t.co/vIS2G47ReQ
— José Morón (@jmgmoron) October 13, 2026
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Monfils sorprende al mundo renunciando a competir en Lyon y París