French tennis star Gael Monfils will be given the chance to say au revoir to his home Grand Slam tournament – in his own inimitable style – with a charity event on centre court at the Roland Garros Stadium on 21 May, French Open organisers confirmed on Thursday.
“Gael and Friends” will celebrate Monfils' 22-year career on the senior ATP circuit with tennis as well as DJ sets and music from Matt Pokora, Martin Solveig and rapper Franglish.
"Gael is a showman," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. "We've effectively given him the keys to the stadium for this charity evening,” she added.
“There will obviously be tennis, with a particular mixed doubles format, and there will be entertainment. He has a very specific universe.”
Proceeds from the event will go to charities with links to the French Tennis Federation as well as causes chosen by Monfils who announced last October that 2026 would be his last on the international tour.
"Roland-Garros ... my last Roland-Garros. It feels strange to write that, but it’s the reality," said Monfils on social media about next month's gala.
"And rather than letting it pass in silence, I wanted to mark the occasion in a way that truly reflects who I am. I’ve called some friends. Real ones. Players I admire and with whom I’ve shared changing rooms, courts and laughter. And then artists I love deeply because for me, tennis and music have always been linked. It’s my life, it’s in my DNA."
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Monfils, who won the French Open junior title in 2004, lost his first match in the main draw at the 2005 French Open against Guillermo Canas from Argentina.
The following year Monfils went down in the last-16 to Novak Djokovic. His best result at the French Open came in 2008 when he reached the semi-final where he lost to Roger Federer.
"Tennis, music, surprises … and above all, love," added Monfils of the impending event. "Because that’s what I’ve always received from you, and that’s what I want to give back to you that evening.
"I want us to experience something together. Something we’ll never forget.”
The 39-year-old, who has been given an invitation to feature in the main draw of the 2026 French Open, will be honoured with an on-court ceremony after his last match at the tournament which starts on 24 May.
The 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, who is also retiring at the end of the season, will receive a similar accolade after he loses. The French player Caroline Garcia, who quit the women's circuit last September, will be fêted too in between the women's semi-finals on 4 May.
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As well as saying goodbye, Mauresmo announced the tournament would say hello to players wearing data-collecting portable devices on court.
The use of such technology has been allowed on the ATP Tour since 2024 to allow players to gain information on their physical performances.
While players will go hi-tech, Mauresmo said the tournament would keep using humans for deciding whether the ball was in or out rather than relying on electronic line-calling machines.
“Line judges are not 100 percent reliable,” Mauresmo added. "But our decision was to stick to our way.”
The 2026 men's and women's singles champions will receive €2.8 million, a 10 percent increase on the sum handed to Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff following their wins over Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka respectively in the 2025 finals.
