Gael Monfils, the 39-year-old Frenchman on his farewell tour, has hinted at 'something special' planned for Roland Garros. In a video posted by the French Open's official account on April 13, he urged fans to tune in on April 16 for more details. The reveal builds anticipation ahead of his final appearance at his home Grand Slam.
Monfils shared the teaser in French, saying, “Hi everyone, it’s Gaël. This year, I’m preparing something special for you at Roland Garros. I can’t tell you too much, but believe me, you’re going to love it. For more details, tune in on April 16.” The clip, shared by @rolandgarros, has sparked speculation about an exhibition or farewell ceremony on the Paris clay courts, where Monfils reached the semifinals in 2008, his best Grand Slam result there. He will play his last matches in front of home crowds later this year after announcing his 2026 retirement last October. At Monte-Carlo last week, Monfils won his 29th and final match at Court Rainier III, defeating Tallon Griekspoor in three sets before losing 6-4 to eighth seed Alexander Bublik in the second round. That victory made him the second-oldest man to win a Masters 1000 match and set a record for a French player. Organizers honored him with a video montage of highlights, including his 2016 semifinal run and a 2015 win over Roger Federer, followed by a standing ovation from the crowd. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Monfils reflected on his Roland Garros farewell: “It will be something I will never forget. Maybe I won’t show my emotions much because I’ll be focused on the match, but when it affects you, it affects you. I tend to be good at controlling my emotions, but we’ll see.” Monfils decided to retire after injuries in 2025, including a leg issue that forced him to retire against Alexander Shevchenko at the Chengdu Open. He won his 13th ATP title in Auckland that year, becoming the oldest champion since 1990. “When you love something so much, it never feels like a good time to say goodbye. But 40 will be the right time for me,” he stated. His goal this year is simply “to enjoy every minute and to play each match like it’s my last.”