• The French veteran returns to the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC in his final year as a professional
• Currently ranked No. 68 in the ATP Rankings, he reached No. 6 in the world in 2016

Mexico City, November 27, 2025.- With one of the most spectacular styles of tennis on the circuit and a charisma that has won over fans around the world, as well as the respect of his colleagues on the ATP Tour, Gaël Sebastien Monfils returns to the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC in his last year as a professional.

A finalist in the 2009 edition in Acapulco, where he lost 6-4, 6-4 to Nicolás Almagro, the now veteran Frenchman knows what it’s like to play on Mexican soil and, after years of absence, the ATP 500 draw is graced by his presence. Monfils is a player who brings much more than technique and experience; he has an electrifying connection with the audience.

A month before turning 39 last September, ‘Sliderman’, as he is nicknamed, announced that he would be ending his professional career of more than two decades, with his final farewell to tennis at the end of the 2026 season.

“Life is very short, believe me when I say that I have no regrets. What I do know is that I feel incredibly lucky to have played in the golden age of tennis and to have shared the court with the greats of the sport: Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, and Murray,” he said.

Despite being No. 1 as a junior and winning three Grand Slam titles in that category, his professional career was marked by various injuries that repeatedly kept him away from the top stages. Even so, his great athleticism, speed, and high IQ for using the racket and spaces on the court were always cause for applause and recognition on the circuit.

In 2025, “Lamonf” won his 13th title on the hard courts of Auckland, the surface on which he has shone the most, and became the oldest player to win a trophy on the tour since 1977. He played in 35 finals and reached the semifinals in two majors: in his hometown of Paris, during the 2008 edition of Roland Garros, and at the 2016 US Open.

As for his life off the court, his love story with former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine has been considered one of the most adorable relationships by tennis fans since it became public in 2019, as they have always openly supported each other.

Monfils is a loyal fan of the Detroit Pistons in the NBA and has said on occasion that if he hadn’t been a tennis player, he would have been a basketball player. With Monfils in Acapulco, the show on the court is guaranteed.

Technical details

Name: Gaël Sebastien Monfils

Age: 39

Date and place of birth: September 1, 1986, in Paris, France

Current ATP ranking: 68th (as of November 24, 2025)

Best ATP ranking: 6th in 2016

Professional since 2004

ATP titles: 13