Monfils: “Roland-Garros gave me 99.9% of my dreams, except the trophy”
Gaël Monfils, on the eve of his final Roland-Garros campaign, reveals the tournament has fulfilled 99.9% of his dreams. The only missing piece? The trophy. He prepares for an emotional night-session opener against Hugo Gaston, reflecting on his career and impact.
Gaël Monfils, Roland-Garros 2026 | © PsNewz
The Frenchman, in his press conference on Roland-Garros media day, takes stock of his last campaign in Paris before his night-session opener against Hugo Gaston on Monday. The trophy was the one missing tick on his bucket list – “the rest, Roland-Garros has given me everything I ever dreamt of, worked for, hoped for.”
Q. What was your reaction when you read the letter Elina wrote for your daughter, in the Players’ Tribune?
Gaël Monfils:That day, she read it to me late at night, when I came back from the event Gael & Friends. We were both very emotional, on edge. I didn’t know she was going to do it. I was very touched. It was funny – it was one of the first times I’d seen her really open up on that subject. It moved me very deeply.
Q. Naomi Osaka was in here a couple of hours ago. She called you the GOAT. She talked about what an influence you’ve been to her as a young Black player. Do you ever reflect on the influence you’ve had, on players in general and on young Black players in particular?
Gaël Monfils:She’s the GOAT (smiling). Of course, now that the end is approaching, I think I’ll start to see it more clearly. In the moment, you don’t really realise the influence you have. When I hear things like that, I’m very grateful, that I may have inspired some players. I know young kids who took inspiration from the way I play, the way I move. For the Black community, to see someone on the tour – in my opinion, that was important. I probably inspired some Black players by showing them that yes, they can make it, and they can see it with their own eyes. I’ll realise it more in time. Over this last season I’m already starting to see it more, and it gives me a lot of gratitude.
The Unfulfilled Dream: A Roland-Garros Trophy
Q. About this tournament in particular, do you have a checklist in your head of things you want to do? Hit on a certain court, take a photo somewhere, take your daughter somewhere?
Gaël Monfils:My bucket list is already complete. The only thing left, and we’re at 99.9%, was to lift this trophy. Everything else, Roland-Garros has given me, everything I ever dreamt of, worked for, hoped for. I feel extremely lucky to be where I am today.
Q. It’s your last Roland-Garros. How did you prepare? Did you go off somewhere quiet, commando-style? How did you live this last stretch?
Gaël Monfils:Pretty relaxed, honestly, because there were a lot of personal things going on at the same time. So fairly relaxed. Tried to get back to a better physical state – I’d been a bit down, so I tried to work more physically. I won’t hide it from you: my real focus was on finding a good strike of the ball again, things like that. I didn’t do anything radically different. I was quite relaxed.
Q. How are you living it all, since you’ve been here this week?
Gaël Monfils: So much is happening. How are you taking it in? A huge amount of things. A lot of love, a lot of energy. The thing is, I have to be careful not to get overwhelmed. Because I still want to produce, I have the chance to play. So I’m trying to block out the emotions, to prepare as well as possible, even if it’s not easy. I won’t hide it from you: with everything that’s happening, with all these emotions, you lose an enormous amount of energy. I’m really trying to be careful, to block as much as I can, because it stays tiring. Tiring in the good sense of things, but when the emotions are too much, it’s hard. The fatigue comes faster. And I still want to play a good match. Two, like I said. Or three. So I’m trying to block all of it, to take the edge off.
Reflecting on the Final Season and Friendships
Q. How would you describe the six months between announcing your retirement and arriving here? There have been ups and downs: the South American tour you couldn’t play, fine winsin Monte-Carlo, disappointment in Australia.
Gaël Monfils: Pretty well, I’d say – from the moment I could tell the tennis world I wanted to retire the following season. It was important to me. After that, pretty well. As I said at the end of last year, it’s a terrible thing to say, but no matter what happens, for me it’s such a chance to be able to say goodbye, to hit balls with all the players, to be competitive in a few matches against these young guys. For me it’s a chance. I’ve lived it well. I still have the competitor side, which I try to push in certain matches. But above all, it’s such a pleasure to have the chance to play one last year on a magnificent tour with incredible players. Honestly, I’m very lucky.
Q. Beyond the locker room and the court, what’s your relationship like outside with Stan Wawrinka, another great player retiring? You were in the stands in Geneva. What does Stan mean to you?
Gaël Monfils: Stan is a mate, a real mate, a real friend. He’s someone where tennis is genuinely secondary. He’s someone I share good times with outside of our work. Someone I’ve come to know over so many years. As a player, I have an immense admiration for him. Stan is Stan; I say it every time, what he’s done, what he produces, is extraordinary. An insane career. For me, he’s a legend. You know him too: he’s teasing, funny, generous, someone who extends a hand a lot, someone I can count on. I’m talking outside of tennis. For me he’s a real friend. Someone who picks up the phone. If I need help or whatever, he’ll be there, he’ll do the maximum. That’s precious.
Q. Have you thought about what your farewell speech might be?
Gaël Monfils: I’m not someone who plans things. I think I’ll really go on the moment, on what I feel in that moment. I think that’s best.
Q. Unless you make it to the final, your best Roland-Garros remains 2008 – the semi against Federer, four sets, close. Do you remember it? Was that the year you felt strongest here? Or were there others where you tell yourself it could have gone further?
Gaël Monfils:I don’t remember the match itself very well. Four sets, I know. I usually have a good memory for these things, but I don’t really remember my sensations. I felt better the year after, in 2009, when I lost to him in the quarters. I think I was playing very good tennis, I was feeling good – and I think that’s the year he wins, when Rafa is eliminated. I had good sensations in 2009. Then there’s a year I was playing very well and couldn’t play, 2016. I arrived with a lot of confidence, but I couldn’t compete. And the COVID year, honestly (2020), I was off to a very good start. Physically, tennistically, I was in a good place. The fact that we cut the season, we didn’t have a “real” Roland-Garros… let’s say each result is worth what it is.
