US OPEN

September 3, 2026

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

L. TIEN/G. Monfils

6-3, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on everything that you've done, everything that you've accomplished, and everything that you've given to the sport.

GAEL MONFILS: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: One of the great entertainers of all time in all sports. Congratulations on that.

GAEL MONFILS: Thank you so much.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. How was that night for you? How did it feel being out there and all the love from that crowd, which you've gotten many times in New York before, but a little different tonight.

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, it was unbelievable atmosphere. You know, amazing energy on the court. It was really nice. You always want to give a little bit more, you know, you want to stay a little bit more.

I gave my absolute all, even I think I went over, but Learner was a really tough one tonight. Really big credit to him. He really held, you know, his focus and, you know, with the atmosphere and everything, so, you know, big congrats to him.

Q. What were your emotions seeing that montage at the end sort of tracing your career here in New York from beginning to right now?

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, it was really nice. Saw this first match against Novak in 2005. But as I say, you know, even looking this montage, I was thinking, you know, even in juniors when I came first year and then see the difference of the color of the courts and everything, so it was really nice.

Reminds, actually, how many matches that I played here and how many hundred atmosphere that I had, because they showed, like, great matches with, I remember, a ton of points and memories.

Q. What would you most want fans to remember and think about you when they hear your name?

GAEL MONFILS: Honestly, I don't know, you know. The way they want, to be honest. The way they want.

I'm just me, Gael Monfils. I think I have been the same since I came on tour with a lot of joy, and then I feel like you don't have to tell anyone how they want to remind you, you know.

I think some people might like me, some not. Some people think I'm fun, some not. Some people think that I entertain them, some maybe not. So I'm all right with everything, to be honest.

I'm just happy that I know, you know, the most important for me is how my family, you know, lived all these year and how they will remind this ride was unbelievable. That was the most important for me.

Q. It's hard for an athlete to process the end of a career. How are you processing, you know, the finish?

GAEL MONFILS: To be honest, I handle it in a way that when you took the decision, you know, you took the decision and then you live with, I think, for many athletes. One side that I think also help us maybe to succeed is to make choices, and this one is a big one.

Maybe the biggest, because it's the last one, but let's say you've been train your mind and your obsession for your sport through so many years, so then when you call it, for myself, it was easier. To be honest, it was easier.

As I say, it was just really tough for me. A couple weeks ago in Paris, couple months ago now, it was really tough, because you don't really know what to expect and how you will really react. It was a little bit tougher for me to handle my emotion and play and perform, because I said that I want to say good-bye but be able to perform well.

In Paris was a little bit tougher, but I felt like, you know, I learn a lot. And then it was much better, much easier for me to handle it here, because here, it was a big one, very important one, and I was super happy that I could actually be here.

Q. Have you thought about what you want to do with tennis after you're done playing? Do you want to coach? Do you want to be on tour as a commentator? How do you want to have a relationship with the sport once you're done competing? As legends probably? You'd be good at legends.

GAEL MONFILS: So far, to be honest, I have a new chapter coming next year. I will work in finance. You know, I already sign to work in wealth management in a Swiss company.

So my next chapter working in office and working in finance. I will always have a look on tennis, because I love the sport. My wife's playing.

I don't think, you know, this next year I will do so much about tennis. But, you know, I'll be around definitely no matter what for Elina a little bit, but I will be more a finance guy.

Q. Are you going to be able to bring your personality and style to Swiss wealth management?

GAEL MONFILS: Somehow, you know, and I think you should ask my wife, you'd be very surprised, is of course in tennis I am the way I am, but I think she can tell you that she wish I be like this at home. I think at home I'm a little bit more strict, more serious, completely different.

Here is my, you know, joy place where I can let my emotion go. Then I'm pretty -- it's tough to say, but I'm really not flexible in a way, that I really like everything done straightaway and a little bit maniac, so it fits that for sure for my next chapter.

Tennis is completely different.