The U.S. Open bid farewell to French tennis player Gael Monfils on Thursday night, as he played his final match in the tournament's second round against Learner Tien. Despite the loss, Monfils received an emotional send-off from the supportive crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Tien, the 14th-seeded American, secured a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Monfils. Throughout the match, chants of "MON-FILS!" echoed from the stands, demonstrating the affection fans have for the veteran player as he approaches the end of his career at the close of this season.

During his on-court interview, Monfils expressed his gratitude to the New York crowd. "It’s been a long ride. I came here in 2003 for Juniors for the first time, and here I am in 2026. I’ve had a long ride. Thank you very much. I felt all the love. I can tell you, you guys are my second-best crowd, of course after Paris. You’re up there, so thank you so much. I just want to tell you it’s been an absolute honor for me to play all this year in front of you. You guys give me great love. I will never forget that. Thank you for everything. Thank you, New York," he said.

The USTA honored Monfils with a video montage of his memorable U.S. Open moments, followed by a presentation of a framed poster from CEO Craig Tiley and tournament director Eric Butorac.

Monfils has participated in the U.S. Open 18 times since 2005, accumulating 34 career match victories, the most by any French player in the tournament's history. His best performance at the U.S. Open was reaching the semifinals in 2016, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic.

Monfils is expected to play his final professional match at the Paris Masters in late October or early November. Known for his showmanship and ability to connect with the audience, the 40-year-old has been a beloved figure in the sport, even without a Grand Slam title.

Following his retirement from professional tennis, Monfils has a new career path lined up. He announced plans to move into the finance industry, having signed to work in wealth management for a Swiss company. "My next chapter working in office and working in finance. I will always have a look on tennis because I love the sport," he shared.

Gael Monfils of France waves to the crowd after losing his second-round match against Learner Tien of the U.S. at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters