Gael Monfils Officially Retires from Tennis, Career Ends Abruptly

French tennis player Gael Monfils has officially retired from professional tennis at the age of 38, concluding a career that spanned 22 years and included thirteen ATP titles. His retirement became official when his name appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) Retired Players List, a move that means he is no longer eligible to compete in professional tournaments unless he rejoins the ITIA’s anti-doping testing pool.

This abrupt end contrasts with Monfils' previously stated plans to retire after the 2026 Paris Masters, a tournament he had hoped would provide a farewell opportunity to his home fans. That event is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 8.

It now appears that Monfils' second-round loss at the U.S. Open in early September to American player Learner Tien was his final professional match. Monfils was also scheduled to receive a wild card to compete in Lyon’s ATP 250 tournament, but his official retirement date has been recorded as October 5.

The Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes tournament announced that Monfils withdrew from an exhibition match alongside fellow French players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, and Richard Gasquet, citing personal reasons.

During his career, Monfils reached a career-high ranking of world No. 6. He has been married to fellow tennis star Elina Svitolina.

News of Monfils' official retirement emerged during a press conference in Shanghai, where fellow player Daniil Medvedev was informed of the development. Medvedev remarked on Monfils' career, stating, “He had an incredible career, he’s one of the rare players about whom no one will say anything bad.”

Following his retirement from tennis, Monfils has indicated plans to pursue a career in finance, having already secured a position in wealth management with a Swiss company.