Gael Monfils marked his 15th and final appearance at the Canadian Open in style on 4 August, defeating Poland's Kamil Majchrzak 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the second round in Montreal. The victory was his first at tour level since Monte-Carlo in April, and it came to a roaring reception from fans who stayed until midnight to witness the moment.

A Historic Night for the Fan Favourite

The 39-year-old Frenchman, who turns 40 on 1 September, became the second-oldest man to win a match at the Canadian Open. Only John McEnroe and Mikhail Youzhny — both with 16 appearances — have competed at the event more than Monfils, who entered on a wild card.

With the win, Monfils became just the ninth man to record 25 victories at the Canadian Open in the Open Era, taking his record at the event to 25-13. More remarkably, his overall tally now stands at 146 wins at the ATP Masters 1000 level — the most victories by any man who has never won a Masters 1000 title.

Serving and Showmanship on Display

Monfils leaned heavily on his serve throughout the contest, posting an 84 per cent win rate on first serve (26 of 31 points), according to ATP Stats. He also delighted the crowd with a signature moment in the final game — a deft drop shot-passing shot combination that flirted with both sidelines before he served out the match on his second attempt.

'Thank you for this atmosphere, thank you for being here, thank you from the bottom heart, you're incredible!' Monfils told the crowd during his on-court interview, visibly moved by the reception.

In the second round, he will face No. 12 seed and American Learner Tien.

Navone Sets Personal Best After Berrettini Upset

Elsewhere in the draw, Argentina's Mariano Navone produced a resilient 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 victory over Matteo Berrettini, claiming his 19th win of 2026 — a new personal best for victories in a single season, surpassing the 18 he had recorded in each of the previous two years.

Navone was exceptional under pressure on return, saving 11 of 12 break points against Berrettini, per ATP Stats. The win over the World No. 41 is Navone's second hard-court victory against a Top 50 player in the ATP Rankings, and it extends a strong run at the Masters level — he has now reached the second round at four of the past five ATP Masters 1000s he has entered.

What's Next in Montreal

With Monfils and Navone both through, the second round in Montreal promises compelling storylines — a sentimental farewell run for one of tennis's most beloved entertainers, and a coming-of-age moment for an Argentine quietly building one of the tour's most consistent seasons.