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Gael Monfils quits after 2026 season

1.3K views 55 replies 33 participants last post by  SetSampras  
#1 ·
#17 · (Edited)
AO2007 R2 was my first memory of him. I felt so bad for Baghdatis (2006 finalist)

I found highlights of his Rio Olympics QF with Kei, which showed the best and worst of Monfils. I was relieved when Kei won the match but with sadness for Gael falling short (and I expected that DF at the right moment on cue).

 
#5 · (Edited)
i remember when he won the junior french open with his sleeveless blue top… he was 18.
 
#19 ·
I mean, these old guys hanging around for the money, it gets tiresome. In my mind, they're gone once they fall from their lowest peak, which is so long ago for LaMonf I've forgotten.
But then again I'm not a fanboy of any players.
 
#28 ·
I agree, players really should retire sooner, but I understand many stay to finish out various corporate contracts, have their kids see them play tennis, give employees time to line up other gigs, & squirrel away extra cash for the college fund. Others become so institutionalized from Juniors onwards, it's all they know. Tennis is their identity.

Once Monfils made those uncharacteristically negative comments about how he sucks, I knew the writing was on the wall. We often talk about injuries and age playing their part, but once you go mentally, it becomes impossible to win.

This narrative of the magic, fairytale run bookends so many careers, but also keeps players hanging on far past their so-called sell/use by date. Venus should've retired after 2017, Serena after 2019, and Nadal after his final RG. There are others to mention, of course. None of the players leave the game with the audience wanting more.
 
#41 · (Edited)
Hope he has a few more matches against djok to make it more lopsided.:)

He's been and is a character on tour. The tour was just a lot better with him,
Regardless of whether you think he underperformed or not

And you can tell he just loves the game
Underprepared is more apt in his case.

He arguably had the most talent of all his French peers (including Tsonga) & many other non-francophone peers but blew much of it on partying & womanizing. Could almost call him a lighter French version of Safin.

Who's to say, had he met his wife or settled down earlier, he might have had a more illustrious career.
 
#35 ·
I wouldn't exactly call him a "legend of the sport", but those who watched him will undoubtedly remember him as an extremely entertaining player. Do think he somewhat resorted to pushing when athletically he was gifted to do really well if he played attacking (that USO 14 match against Fed was a great example), but seems like that wasn't really his motivation either so who am I to knock on him.

Anyways, wonderful career, I can see him continue to do reasonably well over next year so in that sense it's one of the more happy retirements perhaps
 
#40 ·
This. He has 14 months to go. What's the point of announcing retirement so early ? So typical. The clown thinks he's some kind of God of something ?
Some people might want to get the chance to see him one last time before he finishes. Other than Frenchies.
Never forget
Madrid 2017 with Simon was peak troll match, WTA could never.

Simon won 0-6 6-0 7-6(0).