Naomi Osaka credits Gael Monfils for inspiring black tennis talent around the world

Naomi Osaka has paid emotional tribute to Gael Monfils ahead of his final appearance at the French Open, crediting the French veteran for inspiring generations of black tennis players around the world. Osaka herself, a four-time Grand Slam champion, described Monfils as one of the players she looked up to growing up.

Now 39, Monfils has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season after more than two decades on the ATP Tour. Although he never won a Grand Slam title, Monfils became one of the most beloved figures in tennis thanks to his electrifying athleticism, showmanship and fearless style of play.

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At Roland Garros Osaka, she explained how much it meant to young black players to see athletes like Monfils succeed on the global stage.

“Yeah, seeing representation is so important, and on the women’s side, growing up, I had Serena and Venus (Williams), so I was so grateful,” Osaka said.

“On the men’s side, I’ve always looked up to him and (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga for so long. It’s just so important. And obviously there’s a wave of black Frenchmen coming. I can see he’s inspired by … a lot of players here,” Osaka said.

“I really love how he carries himself and how he represents us. He’s just such a really great guy. It’s nice to talk to him now because we’re talking about our kids. He’s just fun to be around,” Osaka added.

MONFILS INSPIRING BLACK PLAYERS

Monfils himself admitted that he is only now beginning to understand the extent of his influence. Reflecting on his career, he said he is grateful if he inspired black players to believe they could make it in tennis.

“Obviously, now that I’m retiring, I think I’ll see a bit more. I think when you’re in it, it’s hard to look around (and see) how much influence you had. I’m very grateful if I inspired some players,” Monfils told reporters.

“Obviously I know some young kids, they like my style, the way I play, the way I move, for the black community also to see someone on tour… I think it was important. I inspired some black players to say yes, they can do it… So I will see it a little later and during the last year,” added Monfils.

Ahead of its French Open farewell campaign, Roland Garros held a special ‘Gael & Friends’ exhibition on Court Philippe-Chatrier, featuring stars such as Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Osaka herself. The celebration underscored Monfils’ enduring popularity and the impact he has had on tennis culture around the world.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

24 May 2026 11:14 IST

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