Gaël Monfils, Roland at heart

What is your first memory from Roland-Garros?

My earliest tennis memory would have to be the Paris Championships. I can’t remember which year it was, but I must have been 9 or 10. I remember playing on the outside courts, and back then I thought it was huge. Another early memory that sticks in my mind was when I asked for my first autograph at the tournament. I went up to the American David Wheaton and asked him for a signature, but he’d just walked out onto the court. He told me he’d do it after the match and he did. I was crazy happy! If I’m honest, I didn’t know who he was, but I remembered his name after that.

Do you have a favourite place in the arena?

My favourite place was the old National Training Centre, before it was knocked down. I spent a lot of time there, a load of kids’ events were held there, so we often slept over. So, I’d have to say the old NTC.

What are your fondest memories of Roland-Garros as a player?

I would have to start with my earliest memory, back in 2005. I lost 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 against Guillermo Cañas but stepping out onto Suzanne-Lenglen for the first time was truly exceptional, an incredible experience. After that, for sure, I played a great many matches with unbelievable scenarios. In 2006, I won three consecutive five-set matches against Andy Murray, Dick Norman and James Blake. It was fantastic, I loved it. In 2007, I went up against David Nalbandian on Philippe-Chatrier, he was a hero of mine. Our match was something else, and it was the only time he beat me.

But 2008 was my best year, when I notched up victories against Melzer, Ljubicic and Ferrer before I was knocked out by Rog’ [Federer] in the semi-finals. I lost many times to Roger, but I always really enjoyed playing him. I also remember another, rather strange match, as night was falling on Philippe-Chatrier against Fabio Fognini in 2010. We played each other again on Suzanne-Lenglen in 2014, a huge five-setter. It was crazy. And I can’t forget that victory after playing for four hours against David Ferrer in 2011, he was always a tough opponent, and even more so at Roland-Garros, the atmosphere was exceptional. The atmosphere when I played here was always exceptional. Even in recent years, Sebastian Baez, of course [first-round victory in 2023] and last year against Dellien and Draper. Some great matches, just the kind we like to see.

You often played during the night sessions. Was that something you asked to do?

Yes, I loved playing late. I’d always ask Amélie [Mauresmo, tournament director] if it was possible, as it’s just the kind of atmosphere I like. Night sessions offer the kind of playing conditions that create a unique atmosphere.

Throughout your long career, is the Gaël we see at Roland-Garros the same player as the rest of the year on tour?

Roland was always different, it’s a tournament that means a lot to French players, when our friends and family can be there. It was also really different for me, as all my family could be here. After my parents divorced when I was very young, it was somewhere I could see them together. It’s always meant more to me than just another Grand Slam.

And what are you hoping for in this final year?

I just want to be myself. I want to be able to compete, play a good game or three, or perhaps more if I dare dream...

This final year will also feature an exhibition on your career...

I’m really flattered by the exhibition at Roland-Garros. It’s a privilege and an honour. “Thank you” just doesn’t cut it. There are no words. Roland-Garros means so much to me, and the chance to celebrate my final Roland-Garros with an event alongside my friends and family, it’s the greatest possible gift. Thank you Roland-Garros, thank you to the Federation too.

Let’s get back to your career. When you look back, how would you sum it up?

Honestly, I think “wow”, because never in my life had I imagined achieving all this. It all started with a dream, an ambition... Behind all that, there was a lot of work and a great deal of sacrifice. But not only by myself, my parents especially. It’s thanks to them that I’m where I am today. They made this little guy who wanted to play tennis, and they did everything they could to give me the best opportunity. More than my career, it’s everything that my parents did for me that’s incredible. I owe them everything.

The journey hasn’t always been smooth over all these years. Were there moments of doubt, moments when you just wanted to give it all up?

It doesn’t seem smooth, but it is really when you remember that growing up you have other dreams and ambitions. At the end of the day, all I’ve ever wanted to be was an elite athlete. You sometimes get hungrier, dream higher, push yourself further. Yes, as a professional athlete, there are ups and downs, tough times, times when, as a younger man, you don’t always understand, you don’t make the best decisions, you think differently. Sometimes, you have to hit the wall to be able to pick yourself back up again. Experiencing things for yourself, that’s what forges your character and who you become later in life. I’m so proud of my career.

What really struck a chord with the public was your unique style, the slides, the spectacular points, your smile, and how you love to bring joy to others...

My style, I owe it to my parents, who always told me, above all, to have fun. Kids who play sport are very lucky. In the beginning, you play for fun. Then, obviously, you start to dream, and want to make a career out of it. I was always just myself on court, but my competitive side was never far. You want to be yourself and win, for sure, because otherwise, there’s no point. But I always wanted to be myself on court. That’s where I feel the most creative, where I can express myself the best. I was really lucky as some people have told me it brought them joy to watch me having fun out on court. And that’s pretty flattering. When I play, I’m truly myself.

A few months before the end of your career, beyond the stats and titles, what would you like people to remember you for?

Just someone who brought joy, someone who was happy to play.

You played during the same era as the giants Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Is that something you regret or you’re thankful for?

I was incredibly lucky to have played against those three legends, to have spent time with them, to have tried to measure up to them. It’s something I’m truly very proud of. The one who caused me the most problems, hands down, was Novak. Novak on the ATP tour, because I beat him in Futures [laughs] but never on the ATP. What he’s achieved, what he always achieves, is fantastic. He’s writing his own history in an incredible way. To have played alongside him is just exceptional. I really admire him.

Do you have the same admiration for what Nadal has achieved, here at Roland-Garros in particular?

I really admire all three of them, Novak, Rafa and Roger. They had different careers, but they all managed to take tennis to an exceptional level. I really loved watching them play, spending time with them, trying to hold my own against them, and you can’t deny it, it was amazing to watch them play each other. It was always breathtaking for us athletes to watch such unbelievable legends go up against each other. So I’d like to thank them for these exceptional clashes.

What will you miss most about this life?

Everything has to come to an end at some point, and that’s just how it goes. If I’m honest, I’d say ‘everything’. Ever since being a kid, your life is all mapped out, you follow your routine. And that routine will change, the preparation, the tournaments, the courts, the fans, the coaches, the friends you make on the tour... Of course, I’ll keep in touch with some of them, because we’re kind of like one big family. I don’t really know what I’ll miss about it all. But obviously everything, because it’s the most incredible thing to have happened to me in my life. I prefer to wait and see so I can give a proper answer. Ask me again next year!

You’ve also changed as a person over the years. Has marriage and parenthood changed the way you see things?

Yes, of course, it changes everyone, whether you’re an athlete or not. I first joined the tour in 2005, I was only just 18 when I stepped out for the first time at Roland-Garros, and now I’m nearly 40, so a lot has changed. With Elina [Svitolina], I guess you could say we suit each other really well. People think about tennis, but we’re people first and foremost. We suit each other as people. We do the same job, but that hasn’t really helped our relationship, where we’re just two people. And that’s the most important thing. It’s true that sharing the same project means we can understand each other more easily. But in the second part of our relationship, Elina and I are parents, there’s our little girl, who doesn’t know anything about tennis. That’s why I say it really goes back to being just people. We have a child together, we’re very happy, and we’re growing as parents. We need to make the right decisions so our family is happy, and so everyone can find their place from a professional point of view, but especially so our daughter, who is at the centre of all this, so she feels happy and secure.

Have you thought about what you’ll do after tennis?

Yes, I’ve always said that I wanted to work in finance. I’ve been interested in it for a long time. I’ve already been lucky enough to have a bit of experience in finance outside tennis, and I’ve met a few people from this world. I could see myself becoming a wealth manager and taking training courses to find my place and start this new chapter in my life.

And where does tennis fit into all this?

Tennis will always be part of my life. In this second chapter of my life, I think there will be several paragraphs on tennis, but I don’t know exactly where they will come in. It’ll never be too far, as my wife still plays. Will I go and watch her play all the time? I’ll perhaps attend a few tournaments, if there’s a golf course nearby [laughs] as I’ve started to play a bit. If a tournament isn’t too far from home, and it falls during the school holidays, if my wife wants me and my daughter to come and watch her, and that fits with my job, I will go and watch.

And finally, what piece of advice would you give Gaël Monfils starting his career over again?

I wouldn’t say anything at all, because there’s not a single thing I’d change in my career. I’m happy in my life today and that is thanks to everything I’ve been through over the years.

Five things to know about Gaël Monfils

• He was born on 1 September 1986 in Paris, to a mother from about Gaël Monfils Things to know Martinique and a father from Guadeloupe. In July 2021, he married Elina Svitolina (career high ranking: world No. 3 in 2017, still playing). Together, they have a little girl, Skaï, born in October 2022.

• He won 13 ATP titles and played in three Masters 1000 finals. Former junior World No. 1, he reached a career high ATP ranking of world No. 6 (November 2016).

• He won three Grand Slam titles as a junior in 2004 (Australian Open, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon), and reached the men’s semi-final at Roland-Garros in 2008 and the US Open in 2016.

• He enjoys many hobbies, including video games, chronometry, basketball, golf, comics and magic.

• One of his nicknames (along with “La Monf”) is “Sliderman”, because of his spectacular style, where he dives and slides around the court.