Gael Monfils reveals what he wants to do when he retires from professional tennis.
The Frenchman is one of the veterans on the ATP Tour, having now played for 20 years.
He has carved out a legacy as one of the most entertaining and beloved players of all time that crowds flock to watch play.
Now aged 38 the time is ticking on Monfils’ career, and he already knows what he wants to do after he hangs up his racket.
What does Gael Monfils want to do when he retires from tennis?
Gael Monfils is known for being one of the quickest players on the ATP Tour.
Many have wondered how much more Monfils would have achieved if he had not suffered so many injuries and played more aggressive tennis.
But Monfils has still managed to win 12 titles, reach two Grand Slam semi-finals and break into the ATP’s top 10 in 2016.
When the former World number six decides to stop playing tennis he has ruled out coaching and plans to enter a completely different field.
“It’s not in my plans to be a coach,” Monfils told Tennis365. “When I stop I want to work in the financial world in a bank. That’s what I want to do.”
Which tennis players have gone into coaching after they retired?
Monfils says he has no plans to go into coaching, unlike his former rival Andy Murray, who is now coaching Novak Djokovic.
The three-time Grand Slam winner is the latest high-profile player to go into coaching after some of those who came before him.
For example Boris Becker and Goran Ivansevic each coached Novak Djokovic and enjoyed a very successful partnership, as the Serbian won over half his tally of Grand Slams with those coaches.
Ivan Lendl became Murray’s in the early 2010s, and he was the helm through the most successful period of Brit’s career with his three Grand Slams and two Olympic gold medals.
Monfils’ compatriot Amélie Mauresmo began to coach after her playing career came to an end. She worked with the likes of Victoria Azarenka and Marion Bartoli, who won the 2013 Wimbledon title under Mauresmo’s guidance.
She also coached Murray, who enjoyed some success on clay between 2014 and 2016, when he won his first clay court title in Madrid, beating Rafael Nadal.
Eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors was brought back into the spotlight in 2006 when he coached Andy Roddick. He helped him get back into the top 10 and he reached the 2006 US Open final.
Gael Monfils up and running at UTS Grand final
Monfils is using some of his off-season to compete in the fast and frenetic UTS Grand Final in London. He has made a promising start, defeating Andrey Rublev in his opening group match on Friday.
Monfils won a tight first quarter 19-15, before cruising through quarters two and three 13-9 and 17-9. This is the same score by which he defeated the Russian at UTS New York in August.
“I came here, I was locked in, wanted to enjoy myself but I’m in the middle of pre-season, I’ve put a lot of work in to be at a decent level next year,” Monfils said.
“Yes, I wanted to put on a show but be tough and I think I was tough today.” I felt good on the court. I was moving well, and the ball felt good.
“There’s always a period when your body lets you do what it wants, that’s a bit easier. I felt like today was that day, I could run a bit better.”
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