Xplorich
The curtains came down on two of the most beloved careers in modern tennis as Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils played their final matches at French Open on Monday, bringing an emotional close to more than two decades of memories on the Paris clay.Monfils’ farewell stretched close to midnight on Court Philippe-Chatrier, where the 39-year-old Frenchman lost a dramatic five-set battle to compatriot Hugo Gaston 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0. Earlier in the day, 41-year-old Wawrinka bowed out after a four-set defeat to Jesper de Jong.Both veterans, who made their Roland Garros debuts 21 years ago, are set to retire at the end of the season.For Monfils, the goodbye carried the emotion of a hometown hero taking one final bow. Chants of “Ga-el! Ga-el!” echoed through the packed stadium as fans celebrated one of the sport’s greatest entertainers. Even while battling fatigue in the Paris heat, Monfils continued to thrill the crowd with spectacular winners and trademark theatrics.After fighting back from two sets down, however, he ran out of energy against an opponent 14 years younger. Following the match, Monfils was joined on court by former Davis Cup teammates Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon during a heartfelt ceremony.Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz praised Monfils in a tribute video, calling him “a true inspiration” and “a great person off the court.” An emotional Monfils also thanked his wife, Elina Svitolina, crediting her support for helping him continue his career.Wawrinka’s farewell carried a different weight — that of a champion reflecting on one of the greatest underdog careers of his era. The 2015 French Open winner received a standing ovation after his loss, with fans applauding one final time for the Swiss star whose thunderous backhand once conquered the sport’s biggest names.“It’s hard to say goodbye to you here,” an emotional Wawrinka told the crowd. “It’s because of Roland Garros that I wanted to become a tennis player.”Wawrinka’s remarkable career included three Grand Slam titles, all won against world No. 1 players — including victories over Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in major finals. Alongside Roger Federer, he also helped Switzerland win Olympic doubles gold and the Davis Cup.
