ATP Tour

Martin retires with Roland Garros defeat: ‘The end of an adventure’

Fabrice Martin brought the curtain down on his career at the event he dreamed of playing at as a child on Tuesday at Roland Garros.

The 39-year-old Frenchman and his partner Adrian Mannarino fell to Austin Krajicek and Nikola Mektic 4-6, 4-6 in the first round of the men’s doubles at the clay major. Martin, who was a finalist in Paris alongside Jeremy Chardy in 2019, posted on Instagram after finishing a career in which he won eight ATP Tour doubles titles and reached a career high of No. 19 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings.

“End of an adventure,” Martin wrote in French. “Thank you to tennis for everything it has given me. Thank you to my family, friends, coaches, partners, and everyone I met along the way. Memories for a lifetime. The adventure on the ATP Tour ends here… but I will cherish every moment."

Martin had announced that Roland Garros would be his final event in an Instagram post prior to the tournament, when he revealed the deep affection he holds for his home major by posting a picture of a picture frame with a child’s toy in it.

“28 years ago, at 12 years old, I gave my dad this frame for Father's Day,” Martin wrote. “With this sentence written on it: "One day I'll be in Roland-Garros.” At that age, it was just a child's dream… This sentence became a goal, then a dream... and finally an entire career. Years of training, travelling, sacrifice, incredible moments, injuries too... but above all a dream that I was lucky enough to live.”

Martin finished his career with a 238-233 doubles record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. He won his maiden ATP Tour crown in Chennai in 2016 with Oliver Marach, while his eighth and final title, claimed in 2023 at the Dubai ATP 500 alongside Maxime Cressy, was the biggest of his career.