Gael Monfils. Photo by CHRISTOPHE SAIDI/SIPA/Sipa USA

The contrasting tale of two veterans at 2025 French Open

By Sai Mohan | Last updated May 28, 2025 8:34 AM ET

Grigor Dimitrov, 34, and Gael Monfils, 38, both made tennis history at the 2025 French Open on Tuesday, but in contrasting ways.

Dimitrov (thigh) medically retired from a major for the fourth time in a row when he called it quits early in the third set against Ethan Quinn. The Bulgarian became the first player in the Open Era to do so, following his walkovers at the 2024 Wimbledon (fourth round against Daniil Medvedev), 2024 U.S. Open (QF against Frances Tiafoe) and 2025 Australian Open (first round against Francesco Passaro).

The excruciating part for the World No. 17 is that he won the first two sets against Quinn on Tuesday and carried over some good form from the recent clay-court swing in Madrid and Monte Carlo. He was similarly in a good position to push last year's U.S. Open quarterfinal to a fifth set before retiring with a groin injury.

Alas, it seems Father Time has crept up on the former World No. 3.

1 - Grigor Dimitrov has become the first player in the Open Era to lose Men's Singles matches via retirement at four consecutive Grand Slam events. . #RolandGarros | @rolandgarros @atptour @ATPMediaInfo
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 27, 2025

On the flipside, Monfils made favorable tennis history with his miraculous 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-1 victory over Bolivia's Hugo Dellien.

After going down two sets, the journeyman fed off the vibrant night fans at Philippe-Chatrier to claw his way back to victory. In the process, the 38-year-old Frenchman became the first player in Roland-Garros history to win as many as 12 five-setters in singles men's action. The 2008 French Open semifinalist similarly came back from two sets down against Argentina's Sebastian Baez in 2023, also in the first round.

With his 40th win at the French Open, Monfils also tied Yannick Noah for the most men's singles wins at the clay-court major.

Gael Monfils has won more 5 set singles matches at Roland Garros than any other man in the Open Era.

12.

Absolute legend.

❤️ pic.twitter.com/xnIX9slLKQ
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 27, 2025

GAEL MONFILS DOING THIS AT 38 YEARS OF AGE

THE SHOWMAN NEVER FAILS TO DELIVER

pic.twitter.com/IuxlZwh0G6
— Barstool Tennis (@StoolTennis) May 27, 2025

Monfils will next face World No. 5 Jack Draper in the second round. The Briton is the overwhelming favorite, but the crowd will undoubtedly be behind its hometown hero. And it's never a wise call to underestimate Monfils, as many have discovered over the years.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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