ATP Tour

Monfils thanks Del Potro in emotional Acapulco moment: 'He's a big champion'

Gael Monfils has long been a fan favourite and a beloved presence in the locker room. Playing his final season on the ATP Tour, Monfils was honoured on Thursday at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, with former World No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro among those in attendance.

Monfils, who reached the Acapulco final in 2009 when the tournament was held on clay, was honoured a day after his second-round match, a 3-6, 3-6 defeat to Valentin Vacherot. During the ceremony, the 39-year-old shared a message of gratitude, acknowledging Del Potro, who was courtside.

“We had big battles. He’s a big champion,” Monfils said of Del Potro. “For me, it means a lot that you’re here, that you send messages. Thank you so much Juan Martin and thank you to the others as well.”

A legend celebrates a legend 😢@delpotrojuan in the house to fete the great @Gael_Monfils in Acapulco. #AMT2026 pic.twitter.com/GEFnvUAaiT

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2026

Del Potro and Monfils faced each other twice, with the Argentine winning both Lexus ATP Head2Head encounters — each in Rotterdam (2013, 2014).

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Monfils earned his first win of 2026 by defeating Damir Dzumhur in the Acapulco first round. A 13-time tour-level titlist, the former No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings boasts a 584-353 career record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.