Gael Monfils has made a retirement decision as the former world No. 6 plans to play again in 2026 and then walk away from pro tennis.
Monfils, who turned 39 on September 1st, turned pro in 2004. Since then, the Frenchman has been a regular participant in the main-level tournaments and has made a nice career for himself, although he never won a Grand Slam or reached the world No. 1 ranking.
Although Monfils is in his late-thirties and has lost his last five matches, he is still a respectable 18-15 in 2025 and he is currently just outside the top-50 in the world - he is ranked at No. 53.
Monfils: I'm at peace with my decision to retire at the end of 2026
"I held a racket in my hands for the first time at two and a half, and began playing professionally at 18. Now, after celebrating my 39th birthday just a month ago, I'd like to share that the year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player. The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career. Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision to retire at the end of the 2026 season," the 39-year-old announced on Instagram.
So far in his career, Monfils has won 13 ATP titles - two Grand Slam semifinals - and his career-high ranking achieved in 2016 saw him sit at No. 6 in the world.
After struggling with injuries in the last couple of years, the Frenchman kicked off this season in a very positive way when he won the ATP 250 tournament in Auckland. By doing so, he broke Roger Federer's record for being the oldest ATP winner.
Lately, it has been a rough ride for Monfils, who is currently riding a five-match losing streak after not winning a match since Wimbledon.
