Emotional farewell for Gaël Monfils at Monte-Carlo Masters
Gaël Monfils received an emotional farewell at the Monte-Carlo Masters after his final appearance ended in defeat to Alexander Bublik.
Gaël Monfils’ run at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters has come to an end, after the Frenchman was beaten by Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in straight sets (6–4, 6–4).
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At 39, Monfils was playing his final match at the tournament where he first competed in 2005.
Despite strong support from the crowd, he was unable to turn the match around against a focused Bublik.
The Frenchman still showed flashes of his talent and connected with fans throughout, but admitted the physical demands are becoming harder with time.
After the match, Bublik paid tribute to Monfils, with the two sharing a warm moment on court.
Monfils then addressed the crowd, thanking them for their support over the years.
“Playing in front of you has always been a pleasure,” he said.
With his retirement planned for the end of the season, the match marked the end of an era for one of the tournament’s most popular players.