Friday at 3: 00 p. m. ET, auger aliassime defeated Gael Monfils in Indian Wells, ending the Frenchman’s last match in the California desert. That result lands now because Monfils announced his retirement last October and is playing the remainder of this season as his farewell tour.
Auger Aliassime’s victory on Stadium 3, match score
Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Monfils on Stadium 3 in three sets, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. The win followed Monfils’ straight-sets victory over Alexis Galarneau in round one, and stadium fans stayed to honor the Parisian showman after the final point.
Gael Monfils’ long run and career numbers
Twenty-one years after his debut and after first coming to Indian Wells in 2005, Monfils closes this chapter with 585 career wins and 13 ATP titles on his record; he became the second oldest man to ever win a match at Indian Wells when he beat Alexis Galarneau in round one. Monfils, 39, has been celebrated throughout the tour since he announced his retirement last October, with peers praising his athleticism and showmanship.
Frances Tiafoe’s response and the torch passed
Frances Tiafoe said he and Monfils spoke before they each played on Friday, and that Monfils told him, “Man, when I’m done, you’re the guy, you’re the entertaining guy. ” Tiafoe called Monfils “such a legend” and described their shared love for bringing joy through the game. Tiafoe delivered a 6-4, 6-2 win over Jenson Brooksby in his own match that day and confirmed he is happy to carry that style forward.
Monfils was honored on court after the match by a packed Stadium 3 crowd that stayed to pay homage to his two-decade run of acrobatic play and fan-focused showmanship.
Monfils will retire at the end of this season; more details about his final events and appearances are expected after the season concludes at 11: 59 p. m. ET.
