Gael Monfils lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime, 7-6, 3-6, 4-6 in the second round of Indian Wells.
Retiring from tennis later this year, Monfils was playing Indian Wells one final time.
Tournament organisers gave Monfils a wild card to play, and he made the most of the opportunity, winning his first-round match against Alexis Galarneau before pushing top-10 star Auger-Aliassime all the way to a deciding set.
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After the match, the Frenchman took to social media to thank the Indian Wells tournament organisers for giving him a wild card.
Gael Monfils thanks Indian Wells organisers and fans in emotional Instagram message
Monfils shared the following message on Instagram.
“Tennis Paradise… and it truly lives up to its name,” he said.
“Today marks the end of a very special chapter for me at Indian Wells.
“It was the last time I stepped on the court here, in a place that has always held a very special place in my heart.
Gael Monfils’ record at Indian Wells
- 23 wins, 16 losses
- 59% win rate
- Best performance – QF (2016, 2019)
“The first time I came to Indian Wells was in 2005. Being able to come back year after year, feel this unique energy, and play in such an incredible setting has always been a true joy and a real privilege.
“Thank you to the tournament for welcoming me all these years, and for inviting me once again this year.
WC performances in 2026 Indian Wells men’s singles main draw
| Wild card recipient | Country | Age | Performance |
| Gael Monfils | France | 39 | Lost in 2R to Felix Auger-Aliassime |
| Rafael Jodar | Spain | 19 | Lost in 1R to Alejandro Tabilo |
| Martin Damm | USA | 22 | Lost in 1R to Camilo Ugo Carabelli |
| Zachary Svajda | USA | 23 | Lost in 2R to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina |
| Michael Zheng | USA | 22 | Lost in 1R to Michael Zheng |
“And above all, thank you to the fans. Your support, your warmth, and your passion are what make this tournament so special.
“Every time I stepped onto these courts, I always felt incredibly comfortable and embraced by the atmosphere.
“Closing this chapter in 2026 is a little emotional, but more than anything, it leaves me with a deep sense of gratitude.
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“Indian Wells will always remain one of my favorite tournaments on the tour.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the memories. Tennis Paradise, forever.”
Monfils has said goodbye to Indian Wells, but there’s still plenty more tennis left for him to play this year.
Which tournaments can we expect Gael Monfils to play?
Like Stan Wawrinka, Monfils has been given several wild cards this year during his ‘farewell tour’.
Wild cards Gael Monfils has received this year
- Mexican Open
- Indian Wells
As his ranking continues to drop (148th), the Frenchman will need to rely on the generosity of tournament organisers to play events later this year.
He’s already been announced as a participant in the Lyon Open this October, but where else are we likely to see Monfils compete?
Well, the likelihood is that we will see Monfils play all his ‘home’ events.
- Monte-Carlo Masters
- French Open
- Paris Masters
Monfils is a former finalist at both the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Paris Masters, and reached the Roland Garros semifinals in 2008.
He could also receive wild cards to the other two Grand Slam events.
Wimbledon and the US Open have both given wild cards to retiring players in the past.
He is, however, more likely to receive a wild card in New York, having enjoyed more success at the event over the years.
Monfils is a former US Open semifinalist, but has never reached the quarterfinals at SW19.
Aside from the Grand Slams and the French Masters 1000 events, Monfils could appear at several smaller ATP 500 and ATP 250 events.
Clay-court tournaments in Europe would surely love to host the 39-year-old one last time.
It remains to be seen when and where Monfils will play next, but you certainly won’t want to miss it!
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