Elina Svitolina's husband Gael Monfils played his last match of his career at Roland Garros. At the 2026 French Grand Slam, Monfils was defeated in the first round.
The former sixth racket of the world announced in October 2025 that he would end his career at the end of the 2026 season. Therefore, this year's Roland Garros was the last for Monfils. His first opponent at the home major was another Frenchman, Hugo Gaston. The match lasted five dramatic sets: after two lost games from the beginning of the game, Gael began a comeback, restoring parity. However, in the decisive set, the 39-year-old tennis player lost with a score of 0:6 and ended his performances at the Grand Slam.
Monfils' final match at Roland Garros was a record-breaking one. Gael played his 17th five-set match at a home major, a new tournament record, surpassing Swiss Stan Wawrinka, who was also playing his farewell match in Paris.
After the game, the organizers held a solemn farewell ceremony for Monfils. In a special video, Gael was addressed by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Yannick Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and other world tennis stars. Gael's friends and partners in the French national team who had ended their careers earlier also took to the court: Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
After the match, Monfils turned to his wife, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina, thanking her for her support throughout his career.
” Now I want to thank Elina. I want to thank my wife, because without her, I might not be here today. We have been together for eight years, eight wonderful years you have been by my side. But I'm not talking about Elina Svitolina as a tennis player, I'm talking about Elina as a woman, a real woman, my wife, who is there in any situation, at any moment. Who always supported me as a man, not only as a tennis player, who was always there when I doubted, who always knew how to encourage me. And most importantly: you gave me the greatest gift – our daughter. I love you.”
Elina Svitolina could not hold back her tears after her husband's last match at Roland Garros.
Elina Svitolina broke down in tears in the stands during Gael Monfils' final match at Roland Garros. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Gael Monfils played at Roland Garros for 19 seasons, playing a total of 58 matches, winning 40 of them. The Frenchman's best result remains the 2008 semi-final, when he lost in four sets to Switzerland's Roger Federer.