Gael Monfils bids Grand Slam farewell after US Open 2026 loss to Tien
Synopsis
Gael Monfils walked off a Grand Slam court for the last time at the US Open 2026, serenaded by 'Mon-fils!' chants from a New York crowd that had little obligation to cheer for him. At 40, with 131 Major match wins and a 23-year span from junior debut to farewell, he leaves as the most prolific French male Grand Slam player of the Open era — beaten in the end by a 20-year-old who grew up idolising him.
Key Takeaways
Gael Monfils lost to Learner Tien 3-6, 4-6, 3-6 in the second round of the US Open 2026 on 4 September 2026 , ending his Grand Slam career.
Monfils, 40 , finishes with a 33-17 US Open record across 18 main-draw appearances .
He is the most prolific French male Grand Slam player in the Open era with 131 main-draw match wins at Majors.
His best Slam results were semifinals at the 2016 US Open and 2008 French Open .
He reached a career-high No.
6 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016 and holds 13 ATP Tour titles .
Monfils is set to retire at the end of the 2026 season .
French tennis veteran Gael Monfils wrapped up his Grand Slam career on 4 September 2026 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, falling to American 20-year-old Learner Tien in the second round of the US Open 2026 by 3-6, 4-6, 3-6. The defeat marked the end of a Major career that stretched across 23 years, from his junior debut in 2003 to a final bow at 40 years of age.
A Crowd Farewell at Flushing Meadows
Despite Tien enjoying strong home support, the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd rallied emphatically behind Monfils, filling the arena with chants of 'Mon-fils! Mon-fils!' throughout the match. After the final point, Monfils addressed the crowd in an emotional on-court speech.
'I want to thank you all,' Monfils said. 'It has been a long ride. I came here in 2003 for the juniors for the first time, and here I am in 2026, so it's a helluva long ride. I felt all the love, and I can tell you that you guys are my second-best crowd, of course after Paris, but you are up there, so thank you so much.'
He was also presented with a special framed picture by USTA CEO Craig Tiley and US Open tournament director Eric Butorac during an on-court ceremony.
Monfils' US Open Record and Career Milestones
Monfils concluded his US Open career with a 33-17 match record, spanning 18 main-draw appearances. His debut at the tournament came in 2005 with a Round 1 five-set defeat to Novak Djokovic, and his finest hour at Flushing Meadows arrived in 2016 when he reached the semifinals — only to lose to Djokovic again.
Across all four Majors, Monfils compiled a 131 main-draw match wins record, making him the most prolific French male player in Grand Slams in the Open era. He reached the semifinals of the 2008 French Open at Roland Garros — his home Slam — losing to Roger Federer, and also registered twin quarterfinal appearances at the Australian Open and a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon. He peaked at a career-high No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016 and holds 13 ATP Tour titles.
Tien's Tribute to a Childhood Idol
For Learner Tien, the 14th seed, the victory carried personal weight beyond the scoreline. 'I told him when we played in Montreal that I hope we get to play one more time,' Tien said. 'And I know that we didn't have that many opportunities left, so I'm super happy it happened here. Sorry for drop shotting you so much tonight.'
Tien, who had also defeated Monfils earlier in the season at the Montreal round of 64, considers the Frenchman his childhood idol — a detail that added a bittersweet dimension to the occasion.
Monfils' Final Words to the Fans
In a second address to the crowd, Monfils reflected on a career defined as much by entertainment as by results. 'It's been an absolute honour for me to play all these years in front of you,' he said. 'I tried my best and tried to perform high-performance tennis, but also give you a great show. You guys give me great love; I will never forget that.'
Monfils is set to retire at the end of the 2026 season, closing the chapter on one of French tennis's most enduring and crowd-pleasing careers.
Point of View
Yet the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd chanted his name over a home favourite — that contrast tells you everything about the career he built. His 131 Major match wins are a record for French men in the Open era, but the number undersells the longevity: 23 years from junior debut to farewell, outlasting peers, injuries, and the generational dominance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. The mainstream narrative will focus on the titles he never won. The more honest accounting is that Monfils redefined what a crowd-first, athleticism-led game could sustain at the highest level across four decades.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Gael Monfils play his last Grand Slam match?
Monfils played his final Grand Slam match on 4 September 2026 at the US Open, losing to Learner Tien 3-6, 4-6, 3-6 in the second round. He is set to retire at the end of the 2026 season.
What is Gael Monfils' Grand Slam record?
Monfils won 131 main-draw matches at Grand Slams, making him the most prolific French male player in the Open era. His best results were semifinals at the 2016 US Open and the 2008 French Open.
Who is Learner Tien and why did he beat Monfils?
Learner Tien is a 20-year-old American player seeded 14th at the US Open 2026. He defeated Monfils 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 and later revealed that Monfils was his childhood idol, calling the match a bittersweet occasion.
What was Monfils' US Open record across his career?
Monfils finished with a 33-17 win-loss record at the US Open across 18 main-draw appearances. He debuted in 2005 and reached his career-best result — the semifinals — in 2016, losing both times to Novak Djokovic.
What honours did Monfils receive at his US Open farewell?
Monfils was presented with a special framed picture by USTA CEO Craig Tiley and US Open tournament director Eric Butorac during an on-court ceremony. The crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium also gave him a rousing sendoff with chants of 'Mon-fils! Mon-fils!'
