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<\/p>\nPerennial crowd favorite and former world No. 6 Gael Monfils announced he will retire at the close of the 2026 tennis season.<\/p>\n
The 39-year-old Frenchman, celebrated for his electrifying style and athleticism, revealed the news Wednesday in a social media post, writing that \u201cthe year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI first held a racket at two and a half and turned professional at 18,\u201d Monfils wrote. \u201cBeing able to turn my passion into a career has been a privilege I have cherished in every match and moment of my 21-year career. While this game will always mean the world to me, I am at peace with my decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monfils has won 13 titles. His best results at Grand Slam tournaments are two semifinals, at the 2008 French Open and 2016 U.S. Open.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I came close, I never did win a Grand Slam during my career. I won\u2019t pretend that I expect to do so during the next year,\u201d Monfils said, adding that he has no regrets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I do have is the feeling that I have been lucky \u2013 insanely, stupidly lucky,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve had the chance to play during a golden age of tennis alongside some of the greatest names in the history of our sport: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following in the footsteps of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet, he is the last member of a group of talented French players dubbed \u201cThe Musketeers\u201d to retire.<\/p>\n
In January, Monfils became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title, achieving the feat in Auckland, New Zealand, when he claimed his 13th tour title 20 years after his first at the age of 38 years, 132 days. He surpassed Federer, who was 38 years, 74 days old when he won the final tour title of his career at the Swiss Indoor in Basel in 2019.<\/p>\n
Monfils married Ukrainian player Elena Svitolina in 2021, and the couple has a daughter. Monfils is currently ranked 53rd.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo every person who ever cheered or shouted \u2018Allez, Gael!\u2019 in real life or at a TV screen: your energy and love are truly everything to me,\u201d Monfils said.<\/p>\n
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