French tennis player Gael Monfils has entered retirement earlier than he had planned. The 40-year-old had intended to retire at the end of the season, but the sport’s drug-testing organization now lists him among players who have declared themselves retired, with his career officially over from Oct. 5.
Monfils, a former No. 6-ranked player, had received a wild card for a tournament in Lyon next week. He was also widely expected to end his career in front of his home fans at the Paris Masters, which begins Oct. 31. He is currently ranked 254th. Lyon organizers said on Wednesday that Monfils will not play, citing “personal reasons.”
Monfils has not publicly confirmed his retirement. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency requires players on its list to be available for testing for six months before they can return to competition, which makes a comeback unlikely.
A Memorable Final Grand Slam Run
Monfils bid farewell to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open in September, falling in a hard-fought second-round match to Learner Tien. Before his exit, he became the oldest man to win a match at the tournament since Jimmy Connors in 1992, who also achieved the feat on his 40th birthday.
Career Highlights
Monfils won 13 titles during his career. His best Grand Slam results came in two semifinal appearances, at the 2008 French Open and the 2016 U.S. Open.
Monfils has previously said he is at peace with his decision to retire. He has also signed with a Swiss company to work in wealth management.