Gael Monfils Rocks U.S. Open On His 40th Birthday

There may have been no better way for Gael Monfils to celebrate his 40th birthday than by doing what he has done throughout his remarkable career: putting on a show.

On Tuesday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Monfils turned his final U.S. Open appearance into another unforgettable New York tennis performance, rallying past Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 in the first round of the 2026 U.S. Open. 

It was Monfils at his entertaining best — spectacular athleticism, fearless shot-making and enough crowd interaction to make the match feel more like a celebration than a first-round contest.

And, fittingly, the celebration belonged to him.

A Birthday Show Under the Armstrong Lights

Monfils entered the match knowing that this U.S. Open was expected to be his final Grand Slam tournament. He had also openly embraced the significance of reaching the age of 40 while still competing at the highest level.

“I hit my 40th birthday the day I play,” Monfils said before the tournament. “This is a big milestone for me.” 

For a while, however, the birthday party looked as though it might turn into a disappointment.

Vallejo took advantage of a loose opening set from the Frenchman, breaking Monfils and taking the first set 6-2. But the veteran immediately changed the complexion of the match.

The second set became a showcase for the Monfils that New York fans have adored for nearly two decades.

He chased down seemingly impossible balls, unleashed explosive forehands and repeatedly turned defense into offense. The Armstrong crowd responded with the enthusiasm normally reserved for a player making a deep run in the tournament.

Monfils won five consecutive games to seize the second set 6-1 and suddenly the match was his.

Vintage Monfils

The third set was even more convincing.

Monfils broke Vallejo twice and continued to feed off the crowd’s energy, mixing power with the creativity and improvisation that have made him one of tennis’ most entertaining personalities.

At one point, after launching himself into the air to hit a spectacular forehand winner, Monfils paused to acknowledge the roaring crowd. He bowed toward the fans even though the match was still in progress — an unmistakable sign that everyone inside Armstrong Stadium understood what the evening represented. 

The fourth set became a birthday gift.

Monfils raced through it 6-0, closing the match with an ace and raising his arms as the Armstrong crowd erupted. 

The 40-year-old had transformed a difficult beginning into a four-set celebration.

Another Chapter in a Remarkable U.S. Open Career

The victory also added another remarkable chapter to Monfils’ U.S. Open history.

The former world No. 6 reached the semifinals in New York in 2016 and has long been one of the tournament’s biggest crowd favorites. His athleticism, personality and willingness to attempt shots that most players wouldn’t even consider have made him a uniquely popular figure at Flushing Meadows.

Now he has another victory to add to that history.

The win also made Monfils the oldest man to win a U.S. Open singles main-draw match since Jimmy Connors won on his 40th birthday in 1992. 

And perhaps most importantly, it means Monfils gets at least one more night on the biggest stage.

His reward is a second-round meeting with rising American star Learner Tien, setting up a fascinating matchup between one of the game’s most experienced entertainers and one of its emerging young talents. 

For Monfils, though, Tuesday night was about more than simply advancing.

It was about celebrating 40 years of life — and more than two decades of professional tennis — in the most Gael Monfils way imaginable.

Under the lights at Louis Armstrong Stadium, in front of a roaring New York crowd, the birthday boy gave them exactly what they came to see:

One more show.

And this one came with a victory.