France's Monfils eliminated in first round for final French Open
Key takeaways
- By: FRANCE 24 Gaël Monfils during his match against Hugo Gaston at the French Open in Paris, 25 May 2026.
- The 39-year-old former world number six has been a hugely entertaining and popular character with both fans and his fellow pros alike for the last two decades.
- But like his longtime friend and rival Stan Wawrinka, who also lost in Paris earlier Monday, he too shall hang up his racquet at the end of the current season.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Veteran French showman Gaël Monfils bid an emotional farewell to French Open on Monday, fighting back from two sets down before falling in five to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston in the first round of his final appearance at Roland Garros.
By: FRANCE 24 Gaël Monfils during his match against Hugo Gaston at the French Open in Paris, 25 May 2026. © Benoit Tessier, Reuters Gael Monfils bade adieu to Roland Garros on Monday as the Frenchman fell just short of pulling off a stunning comeback to lose in five sets to compatriot Hugo Gaston.
The 39-year-old former world number six has been a hugely entertaining and popular character with both fans and his fellow pros alike for the last two decades.