FRA9 · 02/09/2026 · Sports
Gaël Monfils marks his 40th birthday with a US Open win
After losing the opening set, the Frenchman beat Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 in New York. His announced 18th and final US Open continues against Learner Tien.
After losing the opening set, the Frenchman beat Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 in New York. His announced 18th and final US Open continues against Learner Tien.
Monfils at the 2026 US Open: the quick answer
Gaël Monfils beat Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 in New York on Tuesday 1 September, his 40th birthday. The Frenchman reached round two of what he has announced will be his 18th and final US Open, during the season intended to close his professional career.
A match transformed after the opening set
Vallejo took the first set 6-2 before Monfils changed the pace: 6-1, 6-2 and 6-0. ATP recorded 37 winners for the Frenchman. The score shows a difficult start followed by clear control, ending without dropping a game in the fourth set.
Why the win is historic
At 40 on the day of the match, Monfils became the oldest man to win a US Open singles match since 40-year-old Jimmy Connors in 1992. His first New York main draw was in 2005; the 2026 tournament is his 18th appearance.
Next opponent: Learner Tien
Monfils will face American Learner Tien in round two. Tien won their only previous meeting in Montreal. The precise start time can move with the order of play, so check the official US Open schedule on match day rather than relying on an old screenshot.
The final tour of a singular French player
Monfils has said he will retire at the end of 2026. His record includes 13 ATP titles, 587 tour-level wins and a career-high ranking of world No. 6. This final US Open is both competition and farewell, without reducing each match to a ceremony.
Elina Svitolina and the family moment
Elina Svitolina, Monfils’s wife and a tour player, watched from the stands. Their shared New York moment adds a human dimension, but the sporting story remains the comeback and qualification. FRA9 avoids private speculation that adds nothing to the match.
Why New York responds to him
Defensive sprints, sudden acceleration and engagement with the crowd made Monfils one of his generation’s great entertainers. His longevity connects several eras of French tennis, giving the farewell run relevance beyond the results page.
What to watch next
The next test is recovery after four sets and finding answers to Tien’s pace. Follow the official order of play, draw and player profile; court and start time are the next details that still need confirmation.
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