Gael Monfils’ retirement from tennis is a big disgrace, but it did really feel inevitable.
After all, at 40 years of age, the French magician had given lots to the sport across a glowing 22-year profession. He has earned the proper to depart on his own phrases, still proving himself more than aggressive at the pinnacle.
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It’s desperately unhappy that he will not get the dramatic send-off that a participant of his calibre deserves, having opted against taking part in in Lyon and Paris.
Monfils’ silent retirement came as a shock to many.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is the newest to weigh in on the legendary veteran’s departure from the sport, talking after his newest win in Kazakhstan.
Stefanos Tsitsipas gives his ideas on Gael Monfils’ retirement
Replying to a query requested on behalf of Tennishead at his newest Almaty Open press convention, Tsitsipas started by outlining the nature of his relationship with Gael Monfils: “Great friend of mine, one of my best friends that I have on tour. An absolutely lovely soul.”
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He continued: “I’m actually quite sad that tennis is going to lose a person like that. You don’t find players on tour like him, and I really don’t know when it’s going to be the next one, his predecessor, because he just has this charisma about himself that it’s very difficult to find another person.”
Tsitsipas bolstered that he will miss Monfils enormously, insisting that he’d love to keep in contact with him beyond tennis.
“A very pure good heart,” the Greek star theorised. “Away from the tennis court, I am 100% sure he’s an unbelievable guy to hang out with.”
His prediction was cast by his perception that he and Monfils both share a related creativity, and he completed by saying: “Of course, let’s not forget the unbelievable athlete that he is, but he is because he’s achieved incredible things in tennis, for French sport, as an ambassador for our sport.
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“I have lots of mates back home that when they think of tennis, Gael Monfils is one of the first people that come to their minds and they’re massive followers of him.
“And despite, believe it or not, having never won a Grand Slam, he’s probably as respected as someone that has won multiple Grand Slams.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas is having fun with a sturdy finish to 2026
Tsitsipas himself would admit that the previous few years have been a big wrestle for him.
Even this 12 months, by June, the 28-year-old had dropped to 88th in the world rankings. Everyone knew he was higher than this place recommended, but his kind was not proving it.
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It’s therefore so refreshing to see him get pleasure from this resurgence at the back finish of 2026, kickstarted with his title in Gstaad.
Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images
He steadily picked up wins across the summer time, before surging into the fourth spherical of the US Open, beating Arthur Fils before shedding to the eventual finalist Ben Shelton. This represented his best Grand Slam efficiency in almost two years.
And now, in Almaty, Tsitsipas awaits Nikoloz Basilashvili in the semi-final, with a golden alternative to attain another tour-level remaining, and is already back up to thirty third in the dwell rankings.
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