Monfils says he has played in Toronto for last time after early exit

[Zardoz7/12]

It seems to me that the French Open next year will be Monfils' last tournament. Article

The 38-year-old French tennis icon missed out on four match points to exit 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3) to number 142 Tomas Barrios Vera, who won the first Masters match of his career and ended a seven-match loss streak at the ATP level.

Monfils symbolically touched the baseline as he walked off a loser after nearly three hours in torrid summer temperatures approaching 35 Celsius.

"There's no explanation, it's the last one," he said. "It will be two years to play (again) in Toronto, so pretty much I won't be able to play it. Obviously I think the next one is too old for me, so I think it was the last time I'll play here."

He added: "I actually thought at the end, and I was like, 'Well, I think it's, unfortunately, but the last time I think I would play here.'"
Monfils had little good to say about his effort.

"Without taking credit from my opponent, (it was a) bad match from my side, not the quality that I want, not the level that I want to perform," he said.

"(I need to) try to work hard, feel this winning (habit come) back a little bit and try to still believe.

"Keep my head up, even though it's not easy, but I will try my best."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1949590757297283545

 

[InsuranceMan]

Actual news, thank you

 

[Ronaldo]

 

[DSH]

The end is approaching for Wawrinka, Monfils, Djokovic, Cilic.
The generation of players born between 1985 and 1989 is very close to ending.

 

[Ronaldo]

The end is approaching for Wawrinka, Monfils, Djokovic, Cilic.
The generation of players born between 1985 and 1989 is very close to ending.

Would make a Traveling Senior team I'd pay to watch

 

[The Aceserver]

He looked all out of sorts in that match. A ton of double faults and low energy overall. I stopped watching in the second set so I was surprised to see it went so far. I hope he reaches 600 wins before he hangs it up. 17 more wins is doable if he plays until next year.

 

[helterskelter]

It seems to me that the French Open next year will be Monfils' last tournament. Article

The 38-year-old French tennis icon missed out on four match points to exit 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3) to number 142 Tomas Barrios Vera, who won the first Masters match of his career and ended a seven-match loss streak at the ATP level.

Monfils symbolically touched the baseline as he walked off a loser after nearly three hours in torrid summer temperatures approaching 35 Celsius.

"There's no explanation, it's the last one," he said. "It will be two years to play (again) in Toronto, so pretty much I won't be able to play it. Obviously I think the next one is too old for me, so I think it was the last time I'll play here."

He added: "I actually thought at the end, and I was like, 'Well, I think it's, unfortunately, but the last time I think I would play here.'"
Monfils had little good to say about his effort.

"Without taking credit from my opponent, (it was a) bad match from my side, not the quality that I want, not the level that I want to perform," he said.

"(I need to) try to work hard, feel this winning (habit come) back a little bit and try to still believe.

"Keep my head up, even though it's not easy, but I will try my best."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1949590757297283545

Yesterday was the first time I've watched him and thought that he looked done and ready to retire.

Reading those comments today reinforces that belief, although note that he pointed out that it would be the last time in Toronto specifically, not Canada, and so him retiring before the tournament is held again just means before July 2027. He'll be almost 41 by then. In addition, I think he added that even if he is still playing when the tournament is next in Toronto, he thinks that this stretch of the season is too long for him and so he'll skip it. So, he didn't commit to retiring - but it does seem likely.

He looked really tired towards the end of the match. Really tired. If I were his doctor, I'd think he might be putting himself at risk to play a long match in the heat given how drained he seemed.

 

[ibbi]

I mean, he says himself it's 2 years to the next Toronto. That means he could retire at Roland Garros '27 and still not make it back.

 

[helterskelter]

I mean, he says himself it's 2 years to the next Toronto. That means he could retire at Roland Garros '27 and still not make it back.

And he'll be 40 years and 9 months by then, so him pointing out that he's unlikely to play Toronto again doesn't mean he has a very powerful crystal ball.

Plus he did also say that he wouldn't play Toronto even were he still playing when it was next held.

 

[Mainad]

The end is approaching for Wawrinka, Monfils, Djokovic, Cilic.
The generation of players born between 1985 and 1989 is very close to ending.

Throw Raonic (inactive anyway) and Nishikori into that mix.

 

[Mainad]

Throw Raonic (inactive anyway) and Nishikori into that mix.

Goffin too.

 

[helterskelter]

Goffin too.

Disappointingly straightforward defeat for him today against McDonald. He got an early break but thereafter it was mostly one-way traffic.

Ostensibly his form is much better than the others, but I wouldn't be surprised if that Wimbledon injury proved to be Dimitrov's death knell, too. It must be so frustrating to keep getting injured when otherwise playing well.

By the way, of the original list, I think Djokovic and Cilic might well have another decent year or so ahead of them. Not their best but respectable.

 

[a10best]

So he plays in Montreal next year. Problem solved