By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis
Acrobatic aerialist Gael Monfils has taken his final flight on the pro tour.
The 39-year-old Monfils is officially retired from pro tennis, the International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed to French publication L’Equipe today.
The ITIA, which administers tennis’ anti-doping and anti-corruption programs, said Monfils confirmed he is officially retired.
“He informed us of this,” ITIA communications director Adrian Bassett told L’Equipe today. “He is now considered retired and is no longer allowed to participate in tournaments.”
The ITIA lists Monfils’ retirement date as October 5th, 2026 on its website.
A wildly popular player renowned for his shot-making brilliance, Monfils was scheduled to play both Lyon and the Rolex Paris Masters before officially closing the curtain on his career. However, he is now ineligible to play.
Former world No. 6 Monfils concludes his career with a 588-360 record, 13 career championships, more than $25 million in prize money and a lifetime of exhilarating moments for tennis fans all over the world.
A US Open wild card recipient, Monfils’ final match was a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 US Open second-round loss to Learner Tien, who requested and received the Frenchman’s autograph on a tennis ball after beating Monfils in Montreal last August.
A classy Monfils paid tribute to Flushing Meadows fans after that loss to Tien in an emotional social media post.
“I first came here in 2003, a kid playing the juniors, looking at those big courts and dreaming of the day I would walk onto them. From that moment, this tournament became one of my favorites,” Monfils posted on Instagram. “The one I always wanted to be part of. There is something about this place that you can’t explain: the noise, the lights, the energy that hits you the second you step out there.
“More than twenty years later, I played my last Grand Slam match on those same courts. And you gave me a night I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The crowd was extraordinary, the atmosphere was extraordinary. You have always been that way with me, from the very first time until the very last.
“Thank you for the love. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for everything. From the bottom of my heart.”
In 2016, Monfils scored straight-sets wins over Nicolas Almagro, Marcos Baghdatis and Lucas Pouille to reach the US Open semifinals where he lost to Novak Djokovic. It was one of two Grand Slam semifinals Monfils has made in his career. Three years later, Monfils advanced to the US Open quarterfinal suffering a gut-wrenching 7-6(5) in the fifth-set loss to Matteo Berrettini.
The man nicknamed “Sliderman” for pulling off ridiculous running strikes, never reached a Grand Slam final, but made major magic in an entertaining and exuberant 22-year career.
“[Monfils is] super fun. Super tough to play against,” Daniil Medvedev told the media in Shanghai today. “Especially, I’m going to say something, especially when you are up in the score it’s very tough to play against him. Because he relaxes and starts going for everything, tweeners and stuff like this.
“But, look, I hope, first of all, that he’s okay, because for sure I would guess he wanted to play Paris and stuff. So if he retired, I don’t know what’s happening, but I hope that he’s enjoying himself, that he’s feeling good.
“Amazing career, and probably one of not many guys that probably there is not one guy who is going to say bad things about him.”
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