'But 40 will be the right time for me': Gael Monfils set to retire from tennis at the end of 2026 season

French veteran tennis star Gael Monfils has announced that he will retire from the sport at the end of the 2026 season. The 39-year-old has been entertaining fans on the court for more than two decades, during which he has produced some incredible performances.

Over the last few years, it became clear that age had finally started to catch up with Monfils, but even then, he continued to produce some breathtaking tennis for fans all over the world. In recent years, Monfils has repeatedly admitted that he is slowly but surely approaching the end of his career.

On Tuesday, in a post on social media platform X, Monfils announced that his time as a professional tennis player will come to an end at the end of the 2026 season. Monfils, in an emotional post, stated that he cherished every moment he spent on the court throughout his career.

“I had a racket in my hands for the first time at two and a half, and began playing professionally at 18," wrote Monfils. "Now, after celebrating my 39th birthday just a month ago, I’d like to share that the year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player. The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career. Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision to retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season. When you love something so much, it never feels like a good time to say goodbye. But 40 will be the right time for me.”

Monfils lifted 13 titles in his career, and interestingly, one of them came earlier this year in Auckland, where he defeated Zizou Bergs in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Only once in his career has Monfils gone on to lift two titles in a year, which happened back in 2020. That year, he first lifted the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-4. His second title that year was the Open Sud de France in Montpellier, where he defeated Vasek Pospisil in the final in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-3.

Incredible career

Despite winning more than 10 titles, Monfils has yet to secure a Grand Slam or an ATP 1000 title in his career. He finished runner-up thrice in the ATP 1000 competitions. In 2010, Monfils came second-best in the final of the Paris Masters after losing to Robin Soderling in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 7-6. In 2016, at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Monfils lost to the former world number one, Rafael Nadal, in the final with a score of 7-5, 5-7, 6-0. In 2019, Monfils once again lost in the final of the Paris Masters, this time to former world number one Novak Djokovic with a score of 6-2, 5-7, 7-6.

In terms of Grand Slams, Monfils' best performances have been reaching the semifinals on two occasions. In 2008, he suffered a defeat in the semifinal of the French Open to former world number one Roger Federer with a score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. Eight years later, Monfils lost in the semifinals of the US Open in 2016 to Djokovic with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

In his retirement post on X, Monfils mentioned that he did not manage to win a Grand Slam in his career, but highlighted that he has ‘no regrets’. Monfils also highlighted that playing against the Big Four: Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Andy Murray, was incredible ,where even losing the matches felt ‘epic’.

“While I came close, I never did win a Grand Slam during my career,” wrote Monfils. “I won’t pretend that I expect to do so during the next year. Life is too short. Believe me when I say I have no regrets. What I do have is the feeling that I have been lucky: insanely, stupidly lucky. I had the chance to play during a golden age of tennis, alongside some of the greatest names in the history of our sport: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. Even losing feels epic when you are facing a legend (though I have to admit that the occasional wins were pretty euphoric, too).”

Monfils also went on to thank his wife and daughter, as well as his friends and family members, for their support throughout. “To my wife, Elina: my love, inspiration, and strength – and an exceptional player in her own right,” he wrote. “To my daughter, Skai: for the profound love, meaning, and joy she has added to my days. And most of all, to my parents: because all of this would have been impossible – unthinkable, even – without them.”