Gael Monfils teamed with his wife Elina Svitolina to win the "Gael & Friends" exhibition match at Roland Garros on May 21, marking his farewell event after a 20-year professional tennis career [1, 2, 3, 4]. The match featured appearances from stars including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Naomi Osaka, Maria Sakkari, Iva Jovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Richard Gasquet [1, 2, 3, 4].
The exhibition blended tennis, music, and tributes, replacing usual competitive tension with laughter, trick shots, and playful exchanges [1, 2, 3, 4]. Monfils, 39, expressed gratitude to fans, saying, "I've always given my absolute most. I was never quite good enough to win a Grand Slam. But maybe I won something more important than that - a tennis career I'm proud of" [1].
Svitolina called Monfils a "magician" in a note to their daughter and was moved to tears during the event [1, 2, 3, 4]. French Open organizers reportedly gave Monfils free rein to plan the farewell, which was broadcast live with proceeds donated to charities including Terre d’Impact and KELINA [5].
Over his career, Monfils reached a highest ranking of world No. 6 and won 13 ATP titles. Despite never winning a Grand Slam, he made notable runs such as a 2008 French Open semifinal and helped France reach Davis Cup finals in 2010 and 2014 [1, 2, 3, 5, 4]. Known as one of tennis’s greatest showmen, Monfils is recognized for his entertaining playing style and athleticism, though sometimes criticized for prioritizing style over substance [5].
Monfils will make his 19th and final French Open main draw appearance next week, starting with a first-round match against compatriot Hugo Gaston [1, 2, 3, 4]. The French Open runs from May 25 to June 7.
