ATP Tour

Monfils honoured in Paris: 'Very difficult moment to say goodbye'

Gael Monfils received a special tribute at the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday, when the tournament celebrated the Frenchman’s remarkable career in front of his home fans.

The ceremony took place on Court Central at the ATP Masters 1000 event, with Monfils’ former rivals and countrymen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet and Benoit Paire among those present alongside the Frenchman.

“I’m not going to hide that this is a very difficult moment to say goodbye,” Monfils said in French during the ceremony. “The most beautiful thing that this world has given me is you, the wonderful crowd. It’s not easy at all, but I would really like to thank you all.

“Twenty-two years now that I’ve been a professional tennis player. Twenty-two years of an extraordinary story that I could have never dreamed of. I want to thank everyone, whether they are here or at home, because it’s because of you that I could realise my dream.”

Renowned for his explosive playing style and incredible athleticism, Monfils rose to a career-high No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016 and claimed 13 tour-level titles.

The 40-year-old reached an additional 22 tour-level finals, including two at his home Masters 1000 event in Paris. Monfils also holds the record for most wins (146) among Frenchmen at the Masters 1000 level.

Monfils went on to speak lovingly about his daughter, Skai, recalling a conversation in which she expressed her ambition to become a tennis champion one day.

The Frenchman then said: “Skai, your father was a tennis player. He loved tennis. He grew up in Paris, where he had a magnificent crowd behind him. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that you will become a great champion in everything you do and that, one day, you will play here in Paris.”

Monfils made his final tour-level appearance at the US Open earlier this year, when he fell to Learner Tien in the second round. The Frenchman finished his career with 588 tour-level match wins.