Gael Monfils shared his simple dream at Roland-Garros this year. “I want to be able to compete, play a good game or three, or perhaps more if I dare dream…” he said. Those dreams were supposed to bring him back for the Paris Masters, where he wished to close his career. But now, that is unlikely to happen after he suddenly retired. There is the anti-doping programme in place, and even though the organizers have not ruled out some sort of farewell, all lingers in the uncertainty of his silence. Still, for what it’s worth, his fans might be able to see him one more time on the court, at someone else’s farewell.

Stan Wawrinka’s farewell exhibition, One Last Backhand, is set for December 19 at Palexpo in Geneva. The poster for the evening, shared this week, still lists Monfils alongside Roger Federer and Andy Murray. Wawrinka named the three when he announced the night on Instagram on June 26, saying he wanted “one last evening to thank you and say goodbye”. And L’Équipe reported that Monfils will try to be there.

The Frenchman had initially planned to wrap up his career at the Paris Masters, which runs from November 2 to 8, after a wild card in Lyon. Instead, the International Tennis Integrity Agency lists him as retired as of October 5. His last professional match was a second-round loss to Learner Tien at the US Open on September 3. Lyon organizers said he would not use his wild card for personal reasons. He even withdrew from an exhibition match alongside retired French stars Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon.

He had already enjoyed a send-off of sorts at Roland Garros in May, which holds a lot of significance for him, and where he organized a party with prominent guests before his final appearance there. He shared earlier this year that his parents divorced when he was very young, and that Roland-Garros was where he could see them together. Paris is also his home soil, after all. That made his final appearance there especially meaningful.

When he was first listed retired, fans speculated that his new job might be a factor. But things became clearer in the following days. On October 19, Elina Svitolina announced the end of their marriage on Instagram, writing that “our marriage is ending, but our family is not”. L’Équipe then reported that the news hit Monfils “like a ton of bricks” and that tennis lost its meaning for him. The paper added that he was at home in Dubai with their daughter, Skaï, when Svitolina, in China for tournaments in late September, told him by phone.

Svitolina faced heavy criticism online, so on October 20 she posted again to clarify things, saying her first message gave only one reason, that she no longer wanted a life in which she wasn’t truly happy. She added that “Gael’s career ended abruptly after he made the decision to stop based on our situation,” and that Monfils “didn’t deserve” the accusations aimed at him.

Monfils’ retirement removes him from the sport’s anti-doping programme, complicating any attempt to return for the Paris Masters. Under ITIA rules, a retired player generally must give six months’ written notice and be available for testing for six months before returning to covered competition.

Still, tournament director Cedric Pioline left the door open to a possible farewell, saying that the tournament would adapt if Monfils reached out.

“For now, we don’t have any more news than that and we respect his difficult time in his life,” Pioline told AFP. “We still have a little bit of time, even though the tournament will start soon. We have accepted that he has retired. We will adapt as soon as there is contact.”

Now, the Geneva event gives one more opportunity to leave it on the court for the 40-year-old who has served the sport for more than two decades and entertained millions.

What Wawrinka’s farewell night will look like

The programme begins with the village opening at 2:30 p.m., followed by an autograph session with Wawrinka from 3:30 to 4 p.m. A padel exhibition is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., with centre-court doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The pre-show begins at 7:45 p.m., ahead of the tennis at 8:10 p.m. Meanwhile, the farewell ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 p.m.

Wawrinka will play one singles match with Monfils. He will then team up with Federer to face Monfils and Murray in doubles. That gives Monfils two matches on one night. Federer, who retired in 2022, and Murray, who retired after the Paris Olympics in 2024, will both be back on court for it. 

The night marks the end of a 24-year career for Wawrinka. The 41-year-old has won three Grand Slam singles titles, an Olympic doubles gold medal alongside Federer and helped Switzerland capture the Davis Cup in 2014.