US Open 2026: Monfils wins on 40th birthday in final Grand Slam run
Synopsis
Gael Monfils turned 40 and won a Grand Slam match on the same day — a combination only Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors had managed at the US Open in the last half-century. With his retirement confirmed for end-2026, every round he wins now is a farewell lap, and New York is giving him one to remember.
Key Takeaways
Gael Monfils defeated Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 on his 40th birthday at the US Open 2026 .
The win is Monfils' 34th career victory at the US Open — a record for any Frenchman at the tournament.
He became the third man aged 40 or over to win a US Open match in 50 years , after Ken Rosewall (1977) and Jimmy Connors (1992).
Wife and WTA star Elina Svitolina was in the stands; the couple had reached the mixed doubles semi-finals the previous week.
Monfils faces Learner Tien in the second round; the 20-year-old American beat him in three sets in Montreal last month.
This is Monfils' 18th and final US Open appearance; he announced retirement at the end of the 2026 season .
Gael Monfils marked his 40th birthday with a statement victory at the US Open on 2 September, defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York. The win keeps the veteran Frenchman alive in his 18th and final appearance at the hard-court major.
A Record-Setting Birthday Win
The victory was Monfils' 34th career win at the US Open — the most by any Frenchman in the tournament's history. He also entered rare company, becoming only the third man aged 40 or over to win a match at the US Open in the past 50 years, according to US Open statistics. The other two: Ken Rosewall, aged 42, in 1977, and Jimmy Connors, aged 40, in 1992 — both multiple US Open champions.
What Monfils Said
Speaking after the match, Monfils reflected on the significance of the occasion. 'Special number, 40, and playing a good match, so it was special,' he said. 'I think my best birthday was… I can't remember, but it was back, you know, with my family. That definitely was the best one. But this one, let's say, I will put it in the top 10.'
Svitolina in the Stands
Among those cheering from the stands was his wife, WTA star Elina Svitolina. The couple had already made headlines at the tournament, reaching the mixed doubles semi-finals together the previous week. Svitolina returned courtside to watch Monfils on his milestone birthday, adding a personal dimension to an already emotional occasion.
What Comes Next
Monfils, the former world No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings, will face 20-year-old American Learner Tien in the second round. Their only previous meeting went in Tien's favour — a three-set win in Montreal last month — after which Tien reportedly asked Monfils for his autograph. Monfils had announced at the start of the season that 2026 would be his last year on tour before retirement. With one round won, he is determined to extend his Grand Slam farewell as long as possible.
Point of View
But the scoreline tells a more nuanced tale — he dropped the first set 2-6 before dismantling Vallejo with the kind of explosive tennis that once made him a crowd favourite worldwide. The real test arrives in round two against Learner Tien, a 20-year-old who has already beaten him once this season and then asked for his autograph — a generational handshake that captures exactly where Monfils stands. His farewell tour is compelling precisely because it is unscripted: retirement is confirmed, but the exit on his own terms is not yet written.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Gael Monfils' result at the US Open 2026 first round?
Monfils defeated Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 on 2 September 2026, his 40th birthday, at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York. The win is his 34th career victory at the US Open.
Is this Monfils' last US Open?
Yes. Monfils announced at the start of the 2026 season that this year would be his last on the ATP Tour before retirement. The 2026 US Open is his 18th and final appearance at the tournament.
Who holds the record for most US Open wins by a Frenchman?
Gael Monfils now holds that record with 34 career victories at the US Open, surpassing any other French player in the tournament's history.
Who will Monfils play in the second round?
Monfils is scheduled to face American Learner Tien, aged 20, in the second round. Tien beat Monfils in three sets in Montreal last month in their only previous ATP meeting.
Which other players aged 40 or over have won a US Open match in the last 50 years?
According to US Open statistics, only Ken Rosewall, aged 42 in 1977, and Jimmy Connors, aged 40 in 1992, had won US Open matches at age 40 or older in the past 50 years before Monfils achieved the feat in 2026.
