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Monfils Bids Farewell at Roland Garros; Svitolina Wins Rome

5/22/2026

30 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Monfils Farewell

Gaël Monfils played his farewell Roland Garros match on May 25 against Hugo Gaston.
The “Gael and Friends” event that night featured Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka.
Elina Svitolina defeated No. 4 Coco Gauff 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 to win the Rome Masters on May 16.
Svitolina entered the Paris tournament ranked No. 7 with a 29-7 record after titles in Auckland and Rome.

Summary

Monfils Celebration

The exhibition turned the Roland Garros court into a party, mixing live music and tribute performances with tennis.
Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari and rising American Iva Jovic joined the lineup.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet appeared, adding a nostalgic French touch.
Gael Monfils said his career, not a Grand Slam title, was his most important win and expressed gratitude to fans at age 39.

Summary

Monfils Retirement

Gaël Monfils will retire at the Paris Masters on October 31-November 8, 2026.
His farewell exhibition will include DJ Martin Solveig, rapper-dancer Franglish, singer Matt Pokora and comedian Paul de Saint-Sermin.
Elina Svitolina’s Players’ Tribune tribute “Your Dad, the Magician” addresses daughter Skaï, recounts Monfils’s early racism, and led him to post an Instagram salute after her Masters 1000 win.

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Monfils Farewell

Gaël Monfils played his farewell Roland Garros match on May 25 against Hugo Gaston.
The “Gael and Friends” event that night featured Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka.
Elina Svitolina defeated No. 4 Coco Gauff 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 to win the Rome Masters on May 16.
Svitolina entered the Paris tournament ranked No. 7 with a 29-7 record after titles in Auckland and Rome.

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