Gael Monfils marked his 40th birthday on Tuesday by becoming the oldest man in over three decades to win a singles match at the U.S. Open. The French player secured his victory against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay in the first round with a score of 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
Following his win, Monfils was met with a crowd serenade of "Happy Birthday" at Louis Armstrong Stadium. His wife, fellow tennis star Elina Svitolina, also joined the impromptu singing during his on-court interview.
"Thank you very much, I don’t even know what to say," Monfils said as the crowd applauded. He described the evening as one of his "top 10" birthdays.
This year's U.S. Open holds significance for Monfils, who plans to retire from tennis after the 2026 season. Despite dropping the first set, he delivered a strong performance to claim the subsequent three sets.
"That was definitely very special, to play on the day of my 40th birthday," Monfils stated during the interview. "You guys always make it electric. The atmosphere is unbelievable. I feel great here. I always try to put on a great show, so let’s keep it up for the second round."
When asked about birthday gifts from his wife, Monfils revealed, "She offered me a great watch for my 40th."
Monfils has never won a Grand Slam title. His best performance at the U.S. Open was reaching the semifinals in 2016. He reflected in the press conference that his favorite birthdays have always been those spent with loved ones, though he acknowledged the special nature of this particular celebration.
"Tonight was, of course, special. Special number, 40, playing a good match, so it was special," he said. "But, yeah, I think my best birthday was — I can’t remember, but was back with my family. That definitely was the best one. But this one, let’s say, I will put it in the top 10."