Monfils Waves Farewell to Melbourne’s Embrace
Gael Monfils absorbed the roar of Kia Arena one last time, his four-hour battle against Dane Sweeny marking the end of a storied Australian Open chapter as retirement looms at season’s close.
Under the glare of Kia Arena, Gael Monfils traded blistering rallies with home qualifier Dane Sweeny, each shot carrying the weight of two decades on these hard courts. The 39-year-old Frenchman, eyes sharp despite the impending farewell, unleashed heavy topspin forehands that skidded low, forcing Sweeny to stretch wide in the opening exchanges. Nearly four hours later, Sweeny claimed a gritty 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 win, but Monfils owned the moment, his elastic retrieves keeping the crowd on edge until the final point.
“First of all, thank you so much. For me, my journey here with you guys started in 2003, when I came here for the first time,” said Monfils, who has confirmed that he will retire at the end of the season. “Now we are in 2026 and somehow it is the finish line but thank you so much for this amazing ride. You have been unbelievable, so thank you so much.”
Resilience meets raw ambition
Monfils mixed slice backhands with inside-out forehands to disrupt Sweeny’s baseline rhythm, the Australian Open‘s plexicushion surface amplifying every skid and bounce. Sweeny, rebounding from injury, fired crosscourt winners to counter the veteran’s 1–2 patterns, his flat returns pinning Monfils deep in the second set. The home crowd’s surge fueled Sweeny’s hold at 7-5, turning the match into a tactical chess game where endurance edged out experience.
By the third set, Monfils’ deliberate pacing—honed over 37-20 matches at Melbourne Park—clashed with Sweeny‘s quicker footwork, the qualifier’s down-the-line passes exploiting brief lapses. Tournament director Craig Tiley invited Monfils to the microphone post-match, the arena pulsing with anticipation as the Frenchman reflected on quarterfinal runs in 2016 and 2022. Those peaks, amid valleys of setbacks, framed a career defined by hard-court battles under Melbourne’s relentless sun.
Gratitude bridges generations
“I’ve got a lot of great memories here. A couple of big battles. Quarters, fourth round, even today was almost four hours,” Monfils shared, his voice steady as he nodded to Sweeny’s upset. The Australian, whose injury-forged grit mirrored the veteran’s own, earned praise for his story and skill. “For Dane, you guys did an amazing job [supporting him]. I read his story. This kid got hurt, so I really wish [him] good luck for the next one, because he is playing very good. Good luck to him,” he added, the words sealing a respectful handoff.
Monfils wrapped with warmth, the crowd’s cheers washing over him like a final wave. “I am very grateful. I’ve been very lucky to play here for many years, so lastly thank you very much, merci beaucoup, a bientot les amis (thank you very much, see you soon, friends).” As Sweeny advances, Monfils’ legacy—mastery of spin and showmanship—paves the way for the next era on these courts.
Australia will miss you, @Gael_Monfils @AustralianOpen | #AO26 pic.twitter.com/hbneVHxQmO
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 20, 2026
