ATP Tour

How Monfils captivated a generation: 'You don't see players like him anymore'

Gael Monfils will always be one of tennis' greatest showmen, but behind the spectacular shots, acrobatic retrieving and ability to electrify a crowd was a natural athlete with extraordinary talent.

The 40-year-old Frenchman, who retired from the sport this year, inspired generations around the world with his athleticism and the joy he brought to the court, including a young Learner Tien. The 20-year-old American grew up watching Monfils before fittingly becoming the last player to face him in professional competition in the second round of this year’s US Open.

“He was one of the few players that I watched growing up,” Tien told ATPTour.com at the Rolex Paris Masters, where Monfils’ career was celebrated on Tuesday night. “I didn't like tennis very much and with the way he played, how exciting he was, that attracted me to watching him.

“I wasn't sure if I would get to play him before he retired. He's 20 years older than me… It's incredible that he's played for so long where I had the chance to play against him. I felt lucky just to play him in Montreal, and then it turned out that was his last match at the US Open. I'm very happy and I'm very fortunate that it was against me.”

A month before their meeting in New York, Tien and Monfils shared the court for the first time in Montreal, where they produced an entertaining three-set contest in front of a packed crowd. Afterwards, Tien made sure to take home a memento of the occasion, asking the Frenchman to sign a ball.

“I never chased autographs when I was younger, so I don't really have any at all,” Tien, the reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion, said. “It was just a random thing. I was just thinking I probably won't play him ever again and, after this year, I won't have another chance. So, I just thought it would be nice and I'm glad I did. It's in my room.”

_{^{Learner Tien defeats Gael Monfils in Montreal. Photo: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images}}

For Monfils, entertaining was never an afterthought; it was part of his identity, whether soaring across the baseline, producing an outrageous winner or feeding off the energy of a packed stadium. Few players could turn a tennis court into quite the spectacle ‘La Monf’ could, but his legacy was built on far more than spectacular highlights, with the Frenchman winning 13 ATP Tour titles and reaching a career-high No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

That competitive fire never dimmed, even as the years passed and younger players arrived on Tour. During a practice session at the US Open, Valentin Vacherot found himself locked in an intense exchange with the Frenchman, both players stretching from side to side in the New York heat, chasing down heavy groundstrokes and working up a sweat, yet still finding time to enjoy the occasion.

"As you get closer to a tournament, you tend to build towards playing at full intensity,” Vacherot said with a smile. “It was intense. We were both playing great, and even at 40 years old, he's still sliding everywhere and playing great. It was always fun with him. I actually trained quite a lot with Gael during my first full year on Tour.

"He's leaving an amazing legacy in the sport. I don't think you'll find anyone who has anything but great things to say about him. He's a great guy, always really happy to be at tournaments and always great in the locker room.”

That blend of athleticism, personality and competitive spirit was also a source of admiration for Stefanos Tsitsipas, who grew up watching Monfils before sharing the court with him on Tour. The Greek, whose stylish one-handed backhand has also made him one of the sport's more distinctive players, faced Monfils four times, with their Lexus ATP Head2Head series level at 2-2.

"He's a big hero and a big inspiration for the game,” Tsitsipas said. “I have friends who follow pretty much nobody on Tour except Gael Monfils. They're just in love with his energy, his personality and the type of game he brings to the court. He combines competitiveness with entertainment, and you don't see that very often on Tour.

“There aren't many players who are not only incredible competitors and athletes, but also entertaining to watch because of the incredible energy they bring when they compete. That's what makes him so unique.”

Whether captivating a stadium with one of his trademark celebrations or bringing a smile to those around him behind the scenes, Monfils' appeal extended well beyond the spotlight. The Frenchman’s warmth and humour made him a much-loved presence in the locker room, where his fellow players knew there was rarely a dull moment when he was around.

"He's a dear friend of mine,” Tsitsipas said. “I really love hitting with him and spending time with him. He's one of those personalities, much like the one-handed backhand, that you don't see very much on Tour anymore.”