Gael Monfils sent a clear message to those who have criticised him during his farewell tour as he reflected on his final Canadian Open campaign in a heartfelt statement.

The 39-year-old Frenchman announced in October last year that he would call time on his illustrious career at the end of the 2026 season.

In the opening round at the Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal, Monfils defeated Kamil Majchrzak 6-4, 6-4 in his first match since losing his last-ever Roland Garros match to Hugo Gaston in May.

Monfils then bowed out at the Canadian Open with a 3-6, 6-0, 3-6 second round defeat to world No 19 Learner Tien.

The Canadian Open is Monfils’ most successful Masters event by measure of matches won (25) and win percentage (64%). The former world No 6 was a semi-finalist in Toronto in 2016 and Montreal in 2019.

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The 13-time ATP Tour title winner addressed his Canadian Open farewell in a post on his Instagram account.

Monfils’ entertaining playing style and likeable personality have made him a hugely popular figure during a career that began in 2004, but he dedicated some space in his message to take aim at “the ones who keep explaining to me that it’s over.”

Here is Monfils’ full message:

“Canada. Fifteen times I’ve come to this tournament. Fifteen. Eight of them right here in Montreal , the rest in Toronto. And every single one of them, this country gave me something.

“Thank you to the tournament for the invitation. You gave me a place in the draw and let me write one last chapter here instead of watching it from my couch. That’s class, and I won’t forget it.

“And the crowd. My God, the crowd. Monday night was beautiful. But last night ? Last night was something else. I lost, and you were LOUDER than on Monday. More vocal, more crazy, more with me on every point. You’ve always shown up for me here, whatever my ranking. I felt every bit of it.

“And honestly, I had so much fun out there. Congratulations to @learnertien . He was the better man, and he’s got a big, big future ahead of him.

“I leave Canada for the last time with a full heart. Merci Montreal.

“And now a word for the ones who keep explaining to me that it’s over.

“I hear you. We all hear you. I’m not at my prime. I know that better than anyone, I’m the one living in this body. I never won a Grand Slam. I never won a Masters 1000.

“By your standards, I never won anything that really counts. And today I don’t win what I used to win. None of that is news to me, and none of it has ever been hidden. You can stop announcing it every single week I play : the message has been received.

“I told you a long time ago that results are not what I’m measuring anymore. But of course I still want to win. Every win is one more tournament to live fully, one more day in front of a crowd like this one, one more chance to try to perform and give everything I still have. That’s what I’m playing for now.

“Jealousy, boredom, whatever it is : message received. Loud and clear. It’s a sport. I’ve played it with love for 36 years, 22 of them as a professional, and I’m going to leave it with love. I’m not asking anyone’s permission to enjoy the last few months of a career I built myself.

“To everyone else, and that’s most of you : thank you for the love, thank you for the support. See you at the next one.

“And one last time : thank you, Tennis Canada.”

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