Gael Monfils described September 1, 2026, as one of his "top 10" birthdays after advancing to the second round of the U.S. Open. The crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium sang "Happy Birthday" to him as he celebrated his 40th birthday. During an on-court interview, Monfils paused to smile at the crowd's singing, while his wife, fellow tennis player and No. 9 seed Elina Svitolina, joined in. Monfils expressed gratitude, stating, "Thank you very much, I don’t even know what to say."
Monfils made history by becoming the oldest man to win a singles match at the U.S. Open in over 30 years, defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo with a score of 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. This year's tournament is particularly significant for Monfils, as he plans to retire from tennis after the 2026 season. Despite losing the first set, he performed strongly in the following sets.
In the interview, he remarked on the special atmosphere, saying, "That was definitely very special, to play on the day of my 40th birthday. You guys always make it electric. The atmosphere is unbelievable. I feel great here. I always try to put on a great show, so let’s keep it up for the second round."
When asked about his birthday gift from Svitolina, Monfils shared, "It was an amazing gift. If she allows me to say it, she offered me a great watch for my 40th."
Although Monfils has never won a grand slam, his performance this year could mark a significant milestone as he begins his 40th year. In a press conference, he reflected on his favorite birthdays, noting that his best ones were spent with family. He concluded, "Tonight was, of course, special. Special number, 40, playing a good match, so it was special. But, yeah, I think my best birthday was — I can’t remember, but was back with my family. That definitely was the best one. But this one, let’s say, I will put it in the top 10."