{"id":834823,"date":"2026-09-03T04:20:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T04:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/834823\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T04:20:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T04:20:10","slug":"gael-monfils-shares-emotional-moment-with-wife-after-making-us-open-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/834823\/","title":{"rendered":"Gael Monfils shares emotional moment with wife after making US Open history"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gael Monfils described Tuesday night as one of his \u201ctop 10\u201d birthdays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After the Frenchman advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open, he was serenaded by Louis Armstrong Stadium with a rendition of \u201cHappy Birthday\u201d in honor of his 40th. <\/p>\n

He stopped in the middle of an answer during his on-court interview and smiled as the crowd began singing to him, with his wife \u2014 fellow tennis star and No. 9 seed Elina Svitolina \u2014 joining in on the impromptu sing-along.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"GaelGael Monfils of France reacts after defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you very much, I don\u2019t even know what to say,\u201d he said as the crowd applauded.<\/p>\n

Tuesday was certainly a memorable birthday as he became the oldest man to win a singles match at the U.S. Open in over 30 years at the age of 40, with his 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 victory against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s tournament is a special one for Monfils, who is retiring from tennis after the 2026 season. Despite falling in the first set, he put on an impressive performance after that to take the next three sets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was definitely very special, to play on the day of my 40th birthday,\u201d he said during the on-court interview. \u201cYou guys always make it electric. The atmosphere is unbelievable. I feel great here. I always try to put on a great show, so let\u2019s keep it up for the second round.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noting the special day that it was, the on-court interviewer asked Monfils what his wife had gotten him for his birthday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an amazing gift. If she allows me to say it, she offered me a great watch for my 40th,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"ElinaElina Svitolina watches her husband Gael Monfils\u2019 victory over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo during the first round of the U.S. Open on Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. AP Photo\/Adam Hunger<\/p>\n

Monfils after his win over Vallejo at US Open<\/p>\n

\u201cYour wife Elina is watching in the crowd.. has she gotten you a birthday present yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gael: \u201cShe\u2019s playing tomorrow. It\u2019s great of her to stay here. Yes she did. It was an amazing gift. If she allows me to say it, she offered me a\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/rBQyrdg0GH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Monfils has never won a grand slam in his career and the furthest he made it in the U.S. Open was the semis in 2016, but a run this year would certainly be quite a way to start your 40th year of life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speaking inside the press conference room, Monfils said his favorite birthdays had been when he\u2019s spent them with loved ones.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t lie to you, my best birthday was with my family when I couldn\u2019t come here, you know, playing,\u201d he said. \u201cTonight was, of course, special. Special number, 40, playing a good match, so it was special. But, yeah, I think my best birthday was \u2014 I can\u2019t remember, but was back with my family. That definitely was the best one.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this one, let\u2019s say, I will put it in the top 10.\u201d <\/p>\n

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