An emotional farewell: Monfils bows out of Auckland in final campaign
Defending champion Gaël Monfils began his farewell tour with a gritty three-set loss to Fabian Marozsan at the ASB Classic, receiving a traditional Māori ceremony to mark his final appearance in a city where he made history.
Gaël Monfils, Auckland 2026 | © Photosport / 2026
The “showman” of tennis began his final act with a flourish and a tearful goodbye Tuesday. Gaël Monfils, the 39-year-old Frenchman who has spent two decades electrifying crowds with his acrobatic style, lost his opening-match defense of the ASB Classic title to Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
While the scoreboard marked a defeat, the night served as a poignant tribute to a player entering the final season of a storied career.
Monfils was the defending champion
Monfils arrived in Auckland not just as the defending champion, but as part of a historic husband-and-wife storyline. Just 48 hours earlier, his wife, Elina Svitolina, captured her 19th WTA title on the same center court. The victory fulfilled a goal the couple had set to both hold Auckland trophies simultaneously, as Monfils was the reigning men’s champion until Tuesday night.
However, the physical toll of a 21-year career was evident. Playing his first match since September, Monfils showed flashes of his trademark brilliance—firing 10 aces and chasing down impossible lobs—before fatigue set in against the 26-year-old Marozsan.
“It’s a mixed feeling,” Monfils said during a post-match ceremony where he was presented with a taiaha (a traditional Māori spear). “My mind wants it, but my body… it’s not quite the same. Auckland has a special place in my heart. I didn’t come here to defend a title ; I came to say goodbye.”
The Farewell Tour
In October 2025, Monfils officially announced that 2026 would be his final year on the ATP Tour. As the last active member of France’s “Four Musketeers”—alongside the already-retired Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, and Richard Gasquet—his departure marks the end of an era for French tennis.
Monfils’ legacy is defined as much by his longevity as his flair:
- Historic Longevity: In 2025, at age 38, he became the oldest man in the Open Era to win an ATP title by triumping in Auckland.
- Consistency: He reached at least one ATP final in 20 different seasons, a feat matched only by the game’s greatest legends.
- Peak Performance: A former world No. 6 and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist (Roland Garros 2008, US Open 2016).
What’s Next
Marozsan, who now moves on to face second-seeded Casper Ruud, paid tribute to his opponent after the match, calling Monfils “a legend who changed the way people watch the game.”
For Monfils, the “Last Dance” continues in Melbourne. He will head directly to the Australian Open for what he has confirmed will be his final appearance at the year’s first Grand Slam, a tournament where he reached the quarterfinals as recently as 2022.
