French Open tennis: Monfils wants to emulate Ronaldo and LeBron
✨ AI Summary
🔊 جاري الاستماع
play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedOpinionSportVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upSport|TennisFrench Open tennis: Monfils wants to emulate Ronaldo and LeBronGael Monfils played his final match at Roland-Garros in defeat by fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston but pledges to play on. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoFrance's Gael Monfils speaks during the post-match after receiving an award from Roland Garros, as he lost his first-round match against France's Hugo Gaston [Benoit Tessier/Reuters]By ReutersPublished On 26 May 202626 May 2026Gael Monfils is determined to emulate the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James by playing into his 40s and hopes to play at Wimbledon, Montreal and the US Open before bringing down the curtain on his career on home soil at the Paris Masters. The Frenchman, who turns 40 in September, bade a fond farewell to Roland Garros after going down 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0 to compatriot Hugo Gaston in the first round on Monday, walking off to a standing ovation that celebrated a career of two decades. Monfils will retire at the end of the season as he seeks to manage his body into his 40s. “Why do I want to get to the States? Because I want to play until 40. My wish is to be an athlete that plays until 40 years old,” Monfils said. “Like Stan (Wawrinka), LeBron, Cristiano, (Patrice) Evra, like all of the athletes who have managed to continue their sport until the age of 40. “That’s what I want to do. You know that whatever happens this summer, I’m locked in to train.” The former world number six, who has enjoyed some of his best results on clay, acknowledged that the surface has become more challenging in recent years. While he hopes to secure a wildcard for the US Open, he also plans to play Wimbledon and Montreal. “Hopefully Wimbledon. Then need to decide if we go to Washington or not,” he said. “I think we will ask Montreal, hopefully. I want to say goodbye to Montreal. Obviously I will ask the French Federation to have the US Open wildcard. Hopefully I will have this one. “Asia is a bit blurry, to be honest. Then the end of the year, I can tell you I will play Lyon, the new tournament. Nicolas (his agent) wants me to play Vienna, and then hopefully, Paris.” The 13-time ATP title winner reached the French Open semifinals in 2008 and was a key part of France’s Davis Cup runs in 2010 and 2014. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English:
