French veteran Gael Monfils has announced he will retire from tennis at the end of the 2026 season.
Monfils, who turned 39 on September 1, has been ranked as high as No 6 in the world with his best Grand Slam results making the semi-finals of the US Open in 2016 and French Open back in 2008.
He has won 13 career titles, most recently at the Auckland Open in January of this year when he became the oldest ATP Tour singles champion at the age of 38 years and four months, breaking a record previously held by Roger Federer.
Writing on Instagram, Monfils said: “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.
“To every person who ever cheered or shouted ‘Allez, Gael!’ in real life or at a TV screen: your energy and love are truly everything to me.”
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