Monfils honored with 'Gael and Friends'

Roland Garros gave Gael Monfils a send-off before a ball was struck in the main draw. The tournament staged a “Gael & Friends” event on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Thursday, May 21, billing it as part celebration, part farewell for Monfils’ final appearance at his home Grand Slam. Yahoo Sports reported that Elina Svitolina, Monfils’ wife, was in tears during the ceremony as the crowd watched from the main stadium. The tribute came as organizers were finalizing the 2026 singles draw ahead of play starting Sunday, May 24. ### What exactly was “Gael & Friends”? Roland Garros announced “Gael & Friends” last month as an evening show on Court Philippe-Chatrier starting at 7:30 p.m. on May 21. The tournament described it as a night of tennis, music and entertainment built around Monfils for his final Roland Garros appearance. (rolandgarros.com) The official Roland Garros YouTube channel also carried the event live, describing it as a celebration show on Chatrier. That public framing matched the tournament’s broader presentation of the night as a farewell built around one of the French Open’s most recognizable home players. ### Why did the ceremony land so emotionally? Yahoo Sports reported that Svitolina broke down during the ceremony while Monfils was being honored on Chatrier. (rolandgarros.com) The report said the tribute unfolded while the French Open draws were being made, adding to the sense that the event marked a transition from Monfils’ long run in Paris into his last tournament there. (youtube.com) Town & Country, citing Monfils’ planned retirement at the end of the season, said Svitolina had also posted a public tribute ahead of his final French Open. That context helps explain why the ceremony drew such a visible reaction from Monfils’ family and supporters. ### Was this only about Monfils, or part of a wider farewell at Roland Garros? (sports.yahoo.com) NBC Sports reported that Monfils and Stan Wawrinka are both making final appearances at Roland Garros this year after announcing plans to retire at the end of the season. Newsday and other outlets carrying the same report said the two veterans returned to Paris for what was described as a “final dance” at the clay-court major. (townandcountrymag.com) Yahoo Sports separately reported that Wawrinka, a former French Open champion, and Monfils were among the wildcard recipients for the 2026 tournament. That ensured both veterans would be part of the field for the tournament opening in Paris this weekend. ### Who was expected to be part of the Monfils tribute? Yahoo Sports reported ahead of the event that Monfils’ farewell would feature names including Jannik Sinner, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Naomi Osaka. (msn.com) Roland Garros promoted the night as a star-led celebration rather than a standard on-court ceremony. Court Philippe-Chatrier was the setting for the event, giving Monfils the tournament’s biggest stage for the send-off. (sports.yahoo.com) For a player long identified with Paris crowds and night-session atmospheres, the location was one of the clearest signals of how organizers wanted to mark the occasion. ### What happens next for Monfils at the tournament? (sports.yahoo.com) The ATP and Roland Garros schedule pages list the 2026 French Open as running from May 24 to June 7 in Paris. The draw ceremony was held before the start of main-draw play, and Monfils now moves from the tribute event into his final competitive appearance at Roland Garros. Stan Wawrinka is on the same path in Paris this year, with both veterans entering what organizers and multiple reports have described as their last Roland Garros. (rolandgarros.com) Main-draw matches begin Sunday, May 24, at Stade Roland Garros. (newsday.com) (atptour.com)