'Life is too short' - Monfils to retire in 2026

Gael Monfils says he feels "stupidly lucky" to person played successful a aureate era of tennis aft announcing he will discontinue astatine nan extremity of nan 2026 season.

The 39-year-old has won 13 titles successful his profession and became nan oldest ATP Tour champion astatine nan property of 38 and 4 months erstwhile he won nan Auckland Open successful January.

Monfils' athleticism and all-action displays made him 1 of nan astir celebrated players connected tour.

However, nan world number 53 has struggled pinch injuries successful caller years and he was forced to discontinue from past month's Chengdu Open pinch an ankle problem.

"Life is excessively short. Believe maine erstwhile I opportunity that I person nary regrets," Monfils wrote connected Instagram.

"What I do person is nan emotion that I person been lucky: insanely, stupidly lucky. I've had nan chance to play during a aureate property of tennis, alongside immoderate of nan top names successful nan history of our sport: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray.

"The opportunity to move my passion into a occupation is simply a privilege I person cherished during each lucifer and infinitesimal of my 21-year career."

The 39-year-old's astir accordant play came successful nan mid-2010s, erstwhile nan 'big three' - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - were astatine their peak.

The Frenchman reached a career-high ranking of sixth successful nan world successful 2016 aft reaching nan semi-finals of nan US Open, erstwhile he was beaten by Djokovic.

Monfils' tally astatine Flushing Meadows was nan 2nd of 2 Grand Slam semi-final appearances successful his career, having mislaid to Federer successful nan past 4 of nan 2008 French Open.

"While I came close, I ne'er did triumph a Grand Slam during my career," continued Monfils.

"I won't dress that I expect to do truthful during nan adjacent year."

The Frenchman inflicted a daze conclusion connected world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz astatine nan Cincinnati Open successful 2024.

But nan Spaniard and world number 2 Jannik Sinner person won 9 of nan past 10 Grand Slams betwixt them.

"An breathtaking caller procreation of players is already present and I dream they'll bask their clip connected nan tribunal arsenic overmuch arsenic I person for nan past 2 decades," said Monfils.