Monfils loses – Gaël Monfils played what he said would be his final French Open on Monday, May 25, fighting through five sets before losing in the first round to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston. His exit at Court Philippe Chatrier came with a packed crowd roaring for a hometown
For the last time at Roland-Garros. Gaël Monfils stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier with the kind of energy that only a home crowd can fuel. And when the match finally ended on Monday. May 25—after more than three hours and five sets—the shock wasn’t that it was over. It was the way the night closed, with Hugo Gaston snapping the door shut in the final set.
Monfils. 39. fell in the first round to Gaston. late in the Paris night. in what the moment made unmistakably clear was his goodbye at his home Grand Slam. The crowd cheered loudly for their hometown hero toward the end of the competition. Before the match’s conclusion. Monfils made the sign of the cross and tapped the ground in appreciation for the tournament.
Afterward, the two opponents met at the net and shared a hug—then the emotion moved immediately to the stands. His wife, tennis player Elina Svitolina, watched in tears.
The match itself swung hard. Gaston took the early lead, going up 6-2, 6-3, before Monfils responded. He won the third set 6-3 and the fourth 6-2 to level the tension. But Gaston took control in the decider and won 6-0, turning what had been a contest into a finishing statement.
This was Monfils’ 19th appearance at the French Open. He finished the tournament at Roland-Garros 16-3 in first-round matches and with 40 match wins at the venue, a total tied for the most among French male players.
Svitolina’s own day reflected how quickly emotion can turn. Earlier Monday, she rallied to beat Hungary’s Anna Bondár in a tough, three-set first-round match, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-3).
After the loss. Monfils was still honored in a way that felt fitted to a career built for these kinds of stages. Event organizers gave him a plaque with a slab of the clay from the court where he reunited with France’s “Four Musketeers”: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Richard Gasquet. and Gilles Simon. Organizers also played a tribute video featuring highlights of Monfils’ tennis journey.
The official X account of Roland-Garros posted the moment, writing: “Gaël, it’s been more than a pleasure,” alongside the video after the match.
Then came congratulations from some of the sport’s biggest names. Rafael Nadal said. “Gaël. I just want to congratulate you for this amazing career that you had. ” adding. “Have been a huge pleasure to share all those years. I remember the first time I see you when we were very small kids and we made it!. We had a very long and successful career.” Novak Djokovic offered: “My friend. an incredible career. ” and called him “one of the most likeable guys. fun guys out there. ” before saying. “It’s no one that does it like you. Gaël. I think that’s your biggest victory.”.
Monfils had announced in October that this season would be his last. Over the course of his career, he has won 13 titles and recorded 130 Grand Slam wins, the most among French male players. His peak ranking on the ATP Tour reached No. 6 in 2016.
His retirement news had been met with well wishes across the tennis world, including messages from Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Ons Jabeur. Monfils had also recently made headlines at the 2025 Australian Open, where he upset Taylor Fritz in the third round at the age of 38.
On the clay that night, tennis history moved forward without him. Swiss legend Stan Wawrinka also lost earlier in the day in what is his final French Open.
Still, the farewells won’t end immediately. The ATP Tour runs through November, so Monfils and Wawrinka are scheduled to make appearances at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open before their final departures.
The sequence of the day—rally, applause, tributes, and then the blunt final-set score—left little room for doubt about what the match meant. In the span of one night, Monfils’ career was both celebrated and completed on the court that has defined him for decades.
Gaël Monfils Hugo Gaston French Open Roland-Garros Elina Svitolina ATP Tour Wimbledon U.S. Open Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic Stan Wawrinka retirement