Gael Monfils has never seen an American man win a Grand Slam title in his 22-year professional tennis career.
Monfils is retiring from tennis this year, with the 39-year-old bringing an end to his decorated career at the end of the 2026 season.
Despite having a career-high ranking of world number six and winning 13 ATP titles, Monfils has been unable to end France’s 43-year drought without a men’s Grand Slam singles champion.
Following his first round win at Indian Wells, Monfils called out unfair judgement of French players, before giving his verdict on the current crop of American men’s tennis players.
Gael Monfils thinks USA have a ‘fair shot’ at another man winning a Grand Slam soon
Monfils beat Alexis Galarneau 6-3, 6-4, in his first round match at Indian Wells, and after the match he was asked about the current state of men’s tennis in both France and the USA.
France have not had a male Grand Slam champion since Yannick Noah at the 1983 French Open, while Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a major at the 2003 US Open.
Monfils was asked if he thinks it’s unfair to judge a country’s tennis setup on their lack of Grand Slam champions, and what he thinks has caused the shift in the dominance of European players on the ATP Tour.
The current world number 148 answered by pointing out that the big three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have played a big part in this, before Monfils claimed that USA have a ‘fair shot’ at another men’s Grand Slam champion soon.
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s fair,” responded Monfils. “I don’t think it’s fair, because in a way, I can just speak a little bit for my time being on the tour.
“We had like, as I say, three beauties with us, and then I was there. Let’s say three legends and three beauties, to be fair. I feel like Roger, Rafa, and Novak were just incredible where dominate the game, and they were, like, a legend.
“And they didn’t let so much, and, let’s say, what they could let a little bit was just three guys who actually were amazing and for me legends, as well, is Andy [Murray], Stan [Wawrinka], and Marin [Cilic]. That was the three guys — and, sorry, Juan Martin [Del Potro]. Juan Martin. Those guys, let’s say, could pick up a little bit the leftover, if I can say, in a way. They have been legend, as well.
“Then for us was hard. We were just under, just under, couldn’t find a solution to beat them. Just cannot be as good as Stan, Marin, and Juan Martin, also, because those guys, they were in the right moment. They could lift up the level, lift up physically, lift up mentally. Yeah, that’s not easy. You know, that’s not easy, in a way. They were just, like, a better player.
“I feel like Italy, they were waiting for a long time for a Grand Slam champion, and now they have Jannik. I don’t think country matters. Of course individual matters. I think you guys in USA, you will have fair shot soon, as well, and Taylor was not far. He was the last one, I think, in the Grand Slam final. Hopefully in France we will have one soon, as well.
“Maybe, you know, who knows, in those coming years is not a South American or American who is going to make it tough, to European, like to Carlos and Jannik. So who knows that.
“But what I know is that big countries, countries with Slam, we always hope, you know, to have one constant winner. It might arrive, but as I always say, you guys need to be patient (smiling).”
Which American man has the best chance of winning a Grand Slam in 2026?
When did every Grand Slam nation last have a major champion?
While France and USA have not had a men’s Grand Slam champion in some time, they have had women’s winners more recently.
Marion Bartoli was the last French woman to win a Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2013, while Coco Gauff won the French Open for the USA last year.
Should there be a fifth Grand Slam?
If so, which tournament would it be?
Although they are ranked third out of the four major nations in terms of quantity of Grand Slams, Great Britain actually have the combined most recent champions.
Andy Murray won Wimbledon in 2016 as Great Britain’s last men’s major champion, while Emma Raducanu’s US Open win in 2021 ended a 44-year wait for a female winner.
Australia are also awaiting their next men’s Grand Slam champion, with Lleyton Hewitt’s Wimbledon in 2002 still their last, while Ash Barty’s Australian Open win in 2022 is the most recent on the women’s side.
| Grand Slam nation | Last major champion (Men’s Singles) | Last major champion (Women’s Singles) |
| Australia | Lleyton Hewitt (Wimbledon 2002) | Ash Barty (Australian Open 2022) |
| France | Yannick Noah (French Open 1983) | Marion Bartoli (Wimbledon 2013) |
| Great Britain | Andy Murray (Wimbledon 2016) | Emma Raducanu (US Open 2021) |
| USA | Andy Roddick (US Open 2003) | Coco Gauff (French Open 2025) |
Both Australia and USA have had ATP players in Grand Slam finals since 2020, with Nick Kyrgios losing in the 2022 Wimbledon final, while Taylor Fritz finished as runner-up at the 2024 US Open, but France have not had a finalist since 2008.
That was when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the final of the Australian Open, where he was beaten by Djokovic, who won his first Grand Slam title by doing so.
The French Open is the next Grand Slam tournament on the calendar, with the likes of Arthur Fils, Arthur Rinderknech, Corentin Moutet, Ugo Humbert and Monfils expected to be under the spotlight, as they attempt to end their nation’s 43-year drought.
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