Tennis star’s sudden retirement weeks before planned farewell addressed by ITIA

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that French tennis player Gael Monfils has officially retired, effective October 5, 2026. The 40-year-old was initially expected to end his career at the Paris Masters in November after accepting a wildcard for the Lyon Open. However, his formal retirement removes him from the sport's anti-doping testing pool, making him ineligible to compete in those remaining tournaments.

Monfils has not publicly detailed his decision to step away early, though Lyon Open organizers cited personal reasons for his withdrawal. His final competitive match came at the US Open in early September 2026, where he lost in the second round to Learner Tien.