Gael Monfils quietly retires from tennis, ITIA confirms departure of French legend

French tennis star Gael Monfils has officially retired from professional tennis at the age of 40, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed on Wednesday. The former world number six has been added to the agency’s retired players list, potentially bringing an unexpected end to a career that was originally set to end after the 2026 season.

Monfils’ name appeared on ITIA’s official list on October 5, but the development went largely unnoticed until the news broke on Wednesday. An ITIA spokesman told Reuters his retirement exempts him from the sport’s anti-doping protocols and makes him ineligible to compete in tournaments.

The Frenchman announced in October 2025 that the 2026 season would be his last. He was expected to play farewell tournaments in Lyon and Vienna before bringing the curtain down on his career at the Paris Masters in November.

Monfils has not commented publicly on the latest development and the reason for his early departure remains unclear. Courtesy: ITIA

GAEL MONFILS: A CAREER TO REMEMBER

Monfils turned professional in 2004 at the age of 18 and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting players on the ATP Tour. Renowned for his extraordinary athleticism, spectacular shooting and entertaining style, he became a fan favorite throughout the tennis world.

The Frenchman has won 13 ATP Tour singles titles during his career, claiming his first in Poland in 2005 and his last in Auckland in January 2025. In 2016, he reached a career-high ranking of world number six and recorded 587 career victories.

Although he missed out on a Grand Slam title, Monfils reached the semifinals of the 2008 French Open and the 2016 US Open. His last Grand Slam appearance came at this year’s US Openwhere he lost to American Learner Tien in the second round.

ITIA rules mean that a player listed as retired must undergo a minimum of six months of out-of-competition anti-doping testing before returning to competition. While a renewal is possible, Monfils’ immediate future remains uncertain.

The tennis world is still waiting for a statement from the Frenchman, whose planned farewell season seems to have ended earlier than expected.

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