Gaël Monfils officially retired from professional tennis at age 40 on October 5, 2025, when the International Tennis Integrity Agency entered his name on its official list of retired players, France 24 reported.
The final tournament withdrawals and anti-doping rules
The retirement paperwork caught the tennis world by surprise because the veteran Frenchman had earlier accepted a wild card entry for the ATP 250 tournament in Lyon scheduled for October 19–25 and had hinted at a final farewell appearance at the Paris Masters from November 2 through November 8. Bluewin.ch reported that tournament organizers in Lyon confirmed on a Wednesday that Monfils pulled out of the event due to personal reasons.
By registering on the International Tennis Integrity Agency retirement list, Monfils relinquished his right to compete in sanctioned tournaments for a minimum of six months. Anti-doping regulations require players on that registry to maintain availability for unannounced, random drug testing for half a year before they can re-enter professional draws. That administrative hurdle made any comeback appearance at the Paris Masters practically impossible.
Physical tolls and the end of the four musketeers
Monfils played his final official match in early September at the US Open, losing in the second tour at 40 years and two days old. Reaching that milestone fulfilled a target he set at the start of the 2025 US Open when he declared his goal to play until age 40. But physical recovery grew more difficult during grueling baseline exchanges. In New York, the former world number six explained that long rallies and quick tactical shifts took a heavier toll on his aging frame than they used to.
Gael just made his 40th one to remember 🎉Monfils seals a historic four-set victory to celebrate his birthday in style! pic.twitter.com/GAR1V1GhxD
His departure marks the closing chapter for a golden generation of French men’s tennis. Following the retirements of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon in 2022, alongside Richard Gasquet in 2024, Monfils was the last active member of the celebrated quartet known as the “Four Musketeers.” While his contemporaries transitioned directly into coaching or tennis administration roles, Monfils announced in September that he plans to pursue a career as a wealth manager for a Swiss firm.
Career milestones and records set in 2025
Over 23 professional seasons after turning pro in 2004, the right-hander collected 13 ATP singles titles and reached 35 career finals. He captured two Grand Slam semi-final appearances at Roland-Garros in 2008 and the US Open in 2016, alongside three runner-up finishes at Masters 1000 events in Paris in 2009 and 2010, and Monte-Carlo in 2016. Bluewin.ch noted that his final trophy run came at the start of the 2025 season in Auckland, where he won an ATP title at age 38 to become the oldest tournament champion on the main circuit since 1977, before Novak Djokovic later surpassed that longevity mark.
Monfils bowed out of his final major against a player young enough to admire him. In the second round at Flushing Meadows, he fell to 20-year-old American Learner Tien. A few weeks prior, after Tien defeated him at the Canadian Open in Montreal, the young left-hander asked the French veteran for an autograph—a request Monfils happily fulfilled with a smile before sharing a warm embrace at the net.
Next chapters away from the tour
Reflecting on his impending exit from the sport in December 2024, Monfils told Agence France-Presse that he did not fear retirement. He noted that while he loved competition, tennis was never the sole defining pursuit of his life and that he looked forward to exploring entirely different fields.
Related reading
