Another 9-5 job: Gael Monfils prepares for a very different life after tennis retirement
For almost two decades, Gal Monfils made the tennis court his theater. There were impossible fetches, acrobatic slides, flexible limbs, spectacular winners and, above all, the feeling that nobody quite knew what to do next.
However, the Frenchman soon trades the court for an office, tennis kit for a suit and the freedom of competition for a career in finance.
my son who suffered a straight defeat with Learner Tien in his last appearance at the US Open in New York, he already mapped out what was to come. There will be some more tennis before the curtain falls for good, with the 40-year-old planning to play at the ATP 250 in Lyon from October 19-25 and possibly the ATP 500 in Vienna next week. His final tournament is expected to be the Rolex Paris Masters from November 2-8.
Then comes the real change.
“I will be working in finance, in asset management for the Swiss company Alpha Suisse,” Monfils revealed after his US Open exit.
“So my next chapter will take place in an office, in a suit.
Gael Monfils, who is retiring at the end of the year, says his next career after tennis will be in finance
“A new chapter awaits me. Next year. I will work in finance. I have already signed an asset management contract with a Swiss company.”
My next chapter looks more in an pic.twitter.com/DgAdoSsZVN— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 4, 2026
It’s an image that seems almost deliberately at odds with ‘La Monf’, the nickname associated with one of the most naturally entertaining players of his generation. But Monfils insists the man seen jumping, diving and smiling on the tennis court is just one part of his personality.
When a journalist expressed surprise at his choice of a decidedly serious second career, Monfils explained that he is quite different at home than the man we all see on screen.
“You should ask my wife, you would be very surprised!” he said.
“Obviously, on the tennis court, I’m exactly what you see me as,” he said. “Maybe he’ll tell you he wishes I was like this at home.”
Away from the competition, Monfils describes himself as stricter, more serious and, perhaps surprisingly, for a player whose game often seemed improvised, something of a perfectionist.
“I like everything to be done right away,” he said. “I’m a bit of a perfectionist. It fits my next chapter quite well.”
So the transition is unlikely to be a complete rebirth. Monfils says finance is something he is passionate about and has been working on for several years. With his young daughter Skai starting school, he also wants to stay active rather than retire from professional life.
“I want to stay active,” he said.
‘MY WIFE IS STILL PLAYING’
Meanwhile, tennis will not disappear completely. His wife, Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina, remains on tour and Monfils expects her to follow and support the sport. However, he doesn’t anticipate getting deeply involved in tennis after his playing days are over.
“I’ll still keep an eye on tennis because I love the sport and my wife still plays,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll be doing much in tennis next year. Of course I’ll be around to support Elina a bit, but I’ll mainly be a financier.”
This last sentence perhaps captures the special charm of Monfils’ next chapter. For years he was one of tennis’ most iconic figures, a player who made even a routine match seem like an event. He won 13 ATP singles titles, a career high of 6, and spent years among the sport’s elite. He reached two Grand Slam semifinals, at the French Open in 2008 and the US Open in 2016, and became a fixture at the biggest tournaments.
Grand Slam glory ultimately eluded him. So was the consistency that could turn his extraordinary athletic ability into an even bigger trophy. However, Monfils leaves behind something that cannot be measured in names alone: memories.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
04 Sep 2026 16:10 IST