US OPEN

August 29, 2026

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Gael, Arthur was here earlier, and he said you're like a brother to him. How would you describe the origins of your relationship and where things have gone?

GAEL MONFILS: You know, I met him, he was a really young man, a kid. I met him because my sister, she's one year younger than him, and she used to sleep in Roland Garros, and he was intern there. So the first time I met him, he was, yeah, a kid, I don't remember what his age but maybe 15 or 16, something like that.

Actually, first time we practiced together, he was 16, 17 in Roland Garros. We talk at practice with him and Giovanni. I remember even Giovanni, played with him in Australian Open before my fourth round and he was there as well.

We always had a good bond, talk a lot. He come up on the tour, and then, you know, we shared moments on and off the court. And then, you know, as his trajectory, and then definitely, you know, I felt like we had a lot of stuff that we like, you know, in common. Then we just become like very close. I always say before I always support him in a way, if he needs anything, that he can feel free to ask me.

Q. How would you describe him as a person and a player?

GAEL MONFILS: He's a very nice kid, very respectful kid. I get along super good with his dad, like, great families. Met of course his mom. Very humble family. He knows where he come from, you know, what his parents made behind to help him to become a tennis player. So great values.

Then I feel maybe it's funny because he's very young. He's like my little brother, because, as I say, he's like my little sister, the same. They have, yeah, life is new for them, so it's funny how they think. You know, he make me laugh a lot, because he's young and, you know, he has some fresh ideas. It's nice to see, nice to be around.

Q. Given this is your last Grand Slam, what do you think your legacy will be as a professional player?

GAEL MONFILS: I don't really know, to be honest. I don't really know. I will see I think in the years. But I always say this: Time will tell, and then I see.

Q. What would you like that legacy to be?

GAEL MONFILS: Whatever it is, you know. Whatever it is.

Q. Congratulations on your great career. There are some other players who are going to retire at the end of this season, and one is Nishikori. He always said that you are the player he really likes to play. Can you talk a little bit about Kei? Can you share some memories about him?

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, I saw him a lot. We've been talking. I love the way he played. I love to play against him. We had unbelievable battles. Always complicated, to be honest. He beat me twice with match points, and I beat him once with match points, so it was funny. Actually, one it hurts me a bit more, it was for the Olympics, because he got the medal. We never know. It was quarterfinal.

I think we basically grew up together, in a way, on the tour. He was always a player, a very dangerous player, a player that can beat everybody on any surfaces.

Me, I really like the way he was playing. He was one of the first with super-aggressive, returning well. His mobility with his legs was incredible.

Very nice guy. A little bit shy at the beginning of the tour, but then, you know, he grew up, and then he was, like, a funny guy.

No, I spend long years with him and really like Kei.

Q. A follow-up about Arthur. You spoke about what type of person he is, your friendship. What are your thoughts on where he is in his game now and what his potential is?

GAEL MONFILS: I feel like he's starting to understand definitely the tour, because he been playing for what, three, four years now on the tour. He had his first biggest injuries of being out of the tour, so I feel like he start to experience a little bit what is the tour, came back very strong. Had great wins. Have definitely his biggest win last week.

For me, he's still in this learning process of his potential, in a way. Of course for me he has a very, very high potential to definitely go for, let's say, a step like ahead in the 1000s, so I think he has a chance to crack a slam.

I feel he has this belief more and more. It's been a year and a half that he prove it. Even last year he was playing unbelievable tennis. Then he got hurt. Then come back strong and understand that, yeah, he deserve to be on the really, really top of our game. So for me, his potential is no limits.

Q. Congratulations on everything. I wanted to know your mentality is going into the singles tournament knowing this will be your last slam tournament of your career and how you approach each match knowing that now?

GAEL MONFILS: Of course is great, but is different. To be honest, it's different. As I say, in Roland Garros, it was really tough for me. Emotionally, it was really hard.

I could gain a little bit of experience to help me, let's say, for this one, because this one will be special. It's the last one.

I hit my 40th birthday the day I play, so this is a big milestone for me, able to play at 40. I want to do, not good but really good, for where I am now.

I think I put a lot of work, you know, in the court, outside the court, to be the best that I can Tuesday. At the end of the day, it's a game. I will give my best, and I will see.