Gael Monfils delivered a tearful goodbye to the French Open on Monday. Following a grueling five-set loss to Hugo Gaston, the veteran Frenchman turned his final moments on court into a tribute for his wife, Elina Svitolina.

Monfils lost to Gaston on Monday, after a five-set thriller, 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0. This marked his final day at the French Open, bidding farewell to Porte d’Auteuil, where he had been a fan favorite. He then shared a heartfelt message.

"I would like to thank my wife because without her, I maybe wouldn't be still here tonight." He said. "We've been together 8 beautiful years."

"You have supported me, raised me up, loved me," he continued, "and you gave me the greatest gift in our daughter. I love you," he said to his wife, the current world number seven-ranked Svitolina.

The 39-year-old announced his retirement from the sport last year, with an aim to bid a final farewell to his 21-year-long professional career at the Paris 1000 Masters.

Svitolina recently penned a tribute in The Players’ Tribune, addressing the letter to their three-year-old daughter, Skaï.

The tennis super couple have constantly supported each other throughout their career, ever since they met in 2018 and married in 2021.

The Successful Careers of Monfils and Svitolina

In his 21-year career, Monfils has won a total of 13 ATP Tour titles, while also reaching a career-high ranking of world number six. He also reached the semifinals of the 2008 French Open and the 2016 U.S. Open.

Svitolina, on the other hand, is an Olympic medalist who won a bronze medal in women's singles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Recently, Svitolina also won the 2026 Italian Open, her first Masters 1000 title after eight years. Monfils took to Instagram to congratulate his wife.

"Eight years. Eight years to climb back to the top of a Masters 1000." He wrote. "What a season, what a week, what a player. But above all, what a woman."

Svitolina has won a total of 22 career titles, including 20 singles titles and 2 doubles titles. She has reached a career-high ranking of number three in the world.

Monfils is expected to still play the Paris Masters 1000, a tournament from which he started his professional Tennis career in 2004.

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Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Koushik Biswas