Gael Monfils of Paris, France will be retiring from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 tennis season. The two-time grand slam semifinalist (2008 French Open and 2016 United States Open) put on quite the show on Tuesday night at Flushing Meadows, New York.
On Monfils’s 40th birthday, Monfils defeated Adolfo Daniel Vallejos Alvarez of Paraguay, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. In the process, Monfils became the oldest men’s singles player to win at the United States Open in 34 years. Ironically, when tennis legend Jimmy Connors of Santa Barbara, California beat Jaime Oncins of Brazil 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, on September 2, 1992, Connors was also celebrating his 40th birthday.
Monfils broke Vallejos Alvarez seven times. The fact Monfils had 19 chances to break his opponent, shows how effectively he was able to see Vallejos Alvarez’s serve. Monfils had the service advantage as he had five aces and two double faults, and Vallejos Alvarez had there aces and five double faults. Monfils also had the statistical advantage on winning percentage on first serve. Monfils was at 79% and Vallejos Alvarez was at 57%.
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This was Monfils’s fifth win of 2026. He also beat Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-4, 7-6 in the first round of Acapulco, Alexis Galarneau of Canada 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of Indian Wells, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of Monte Carlo, and Kamil Majchrzak of Poland 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of Montreal.
Next up for Monfils in round two is American Learner Tien of Irvine, California. Tien reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this year and then made the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Montreal. Tien won their only prior match, and it came in Montreal last month. Tien won 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 in the second round.
