French tennis great Gael Monfils will take his final bow at the end of next year.
The fan favorite and former sixth-ranked player in the world plans to retire after the 2026 season, he announced Wednesday in a heartfelt statement posted on social media.
On the heels of his 39th birthday, Monfils declared it was the “right time” to walk away and he was “tremendously at peace with my decision.”
He thanked his family and friends, colleagues and coaches, along with everyone who cheered his name along the way.
“I held a racket in my hands for the first time at two and a half, and began playing professionally at 18,” Monfils wrote. “The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career. Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision.”
He walks off the court with 13 championships to his name, competing against some of the most prolific names in the sport.
Monfils captured his latest title in January at the age of 38 years and 132 days old, eclipsing Roger Federer as the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title.
The victory came two decades after he won his first.
He may never have won an elusive Grand Slam title during his career, but Monfils isn’t concerned with what he “could have” or “should have” done. He’s walking away without regrets.
“As those who know me can attest, I’ve never thought this way, and frankly I’m far too old to start doing this now,” he wrote. “Life is too short. Believe me when I say that I have no regrets.
“What I do have is the feeling that I have been lucky,” he added, “insanely, stupidly, lucky.”
Monfils is the final member of the French “Musketeers” to call it a career, joining Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet in retirement.
While winning one more title would be a storybook ending, Monfils enters the victory lap of his legendary career with only one true goal in mind.
“To enjoy every minute, and to play each match like it’s my last,” he wrote.