Gael Monfils never did ordinary. Not with his tennis, not with his celebrations, and certainly not with his 40th birthday.
While most people mark the milestone with a quiet dinner or a surprise party, the French showman chose a different stage: a night session at the US Open, in what he has already confirmed is the final major of his career. He walked off Louis Armstrong Stadium with a win, a roar from the stands, and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” ringing in his ears.
The script could hardly have suited him better.
Monfils, a former world number six and 2016 US Open semi-finalist, rolled back the years after a slow start to beat Paraguayan Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 2-6 6-1 6-2 6-0. The scoreline tells its own story: one set to remember his age, three sets to remind everyone of his talent.
He is now the oldest man to win a US Open main-draw match since Jimmy Connors, who also triumphed in New York on his 40th birthday back in 1992.
That’s the company Monfils keeps now – a stat that underlines both his longevity and his stubborn refusal to fade quietly.
At first, it didn’t look like a celebration. Vallejo came out swinging, Monfils looked flat, and the opening set slipped away 6-2. Then the mood changed. The veteran tightened his game, found his legs, and, crucially, found the crowd.
Once he did, the night belonged to him.
Monfils accelerated through the second set 6-1, then 6-2 in the third, and finally swept the fourth 6-0, turning the match into a one-man show. The trick shots, the elastic defence, the sudden bursts of power – all the familiar Monfils trademarks returned, framed by the noise of a New York crowd that has always loved a performer.
They gave him something back at the end. As he stood on court for his post-match interview, thousands inside Louis Armstrong Stadium broke into an impromptu rendition of “Happy Birthday”, turning a routine on-court chat into a shared celebration.
“To play on my 40th birthday is very special,” Monfils said, soaking it all in. He has already announced he will retire at the end of this season, and nights like this explain why he chose to stretch his career just that little bit longer.
“The atmosphere [in New York] is always electric – I feel great here. I always try to play great tennis and put on a great show,” he added, a line that could double as the mission statement of his entire time on tour.
Then he turned back to the stands, addressing the people who had helped turn a first-round match into a farewell party in the making.
“You guys rock – let’s keep it up for the second round.”
One more match, at least. One more chance for Monfils to turn a tennis court into a stage before the curtain finally comes down.
