Gael Monfils brought his final Canadian Open campaign to a close in Montreal this week, and the 39-year-old made sure to leave no words unsaid. After exiting in the second round to Learner Tien (3-6, 6-0, 3-6), Monfils took to Instagram to reflect on 15 appearances at this tournament and to push back firmly against doubters who continue to question why he is still competing.
Monfils had opened his Montreal run with an encouraging 6-4, 6-4 victory over Kamil Majchrzak, his first match since falling to Hugo Gaston in his final-ever Roland Garros appearance in May. That win offered a reminder of the athlete still capable of performing at the Masters 1000 level, before Tien proved too strong in the second round.
The tournament holds a special place in Monfils' career. He has won 25 matches here across his 15 visits, with a win rate of 64 percent, making it his most successful Masters event by both measures. He reached the semifinals in Toronto in 2016 and Montreal in 2019, further cementing the genuine connection he shares with Canadian crowds.
In his Instagram message, Monfils was effusive in praising the atmosphere, noting that the crowd on his final night was somehow even louder after a defeat than it had been during his opening win. He congratulated Tien warmly, calling him a player with a big future ahead.
But he reserved a pointed section for skeptics, acknowledging openly that he never won a Grand Slam or a Masters 1000 title, while refusing to let those facts define what his career has meant. The 13-time ATP title winner, who turned professional back in 2004, clearly still has fire left.
TennisDraw users who followed the Montreal draw closely will know Monfils brought plenty of emotion to every match this week.
