“40 will be the right time for me” – Monfils to retire at the end of the 2026 season

2026 Will Be Gaël Monfils’ Final Dance. In an Instagram post published this Wednesday, the French player announced that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season. This marks the end of a career that began in 2004, during which he has (so far) won 13 titles.

“I held a racket in my hands for the first time when I was two and a half years old, and I started playing professionally at 18. Today, after celebrating my 39th birthday a month ago, I would like to share that the upcoming year will be my last as a professional tennis player,” Monfils wrote in his Instagram post.

“Having had the opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished in every match and every moment of my 21-year career. While this sport means so much to me, I am at peace with my decision to retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season.”

“Although I came close, I never won a Grand Slam in my career. And I’m not going to pretend that I expect to do so in the coming year. ‘You could have, you should have…’ Those who know me understand that I’ve never thought that way, and frankly, I’m far too old to start now. Life is too short. Believe me when I say I have no regrets.”

When you love something this much, there’s never a perfect time to say goodbye

“What I do feel, however, is incredible luck: an insane, amazing kind of luck. I’ve had the chance to play in a golden era of tennis, alongside some of the greatest names in the history of our sport: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray. Even losing feels epic when you face a legend (although I must admit that the occasional victories were euphoric too).”

“An exciting new generation of players is already here, and I hope they enjoy being on the court as much as I have over the past twenty years. At the risk of sounding like a dad—which I am—time really flies.”

“In addition to ‘La Monf,’ I’ve often been called ‘The Showman’ during my career, but I want you to know that it has never just been a performance for the audience. What you see is joy, pure joy, overflowing. My passion and enjoyment on the court are real, and their energy drives me in every match.”

“I think what the audience perceives as a ‘show’ is this current that flows through each of them and comes back into my game. A full circle of thrill and pleasure.”

“When you love something this much, there’s never a perfect time to say goodbye. But 40 years old will be the right time for me. Of course, winning one more title before hanging up my racket would be amazing. But honestly, my only real goal for the coming year is simple: Enjoy every minute, and play every match as if it’s my last.”