Gaël Monfils played his final match at the Canadian Open on Thursday in Montreal, falling to 12th seed Learner Tien (6-3, 0-6, 6-3) in the second round. At 39, the Frenchman left IGA Stadium's centre court to a standing ovation, delivering one last moment of magic before closing the chapter on nearly two decades at the Canadian tournament.
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A second set for the ages
Tien quickly took control of the opening set with his incisive baseline game (6-3), but Monfils responded in the most spectacular fashion imaginable. The Parisian took the second set 6-0, dropping just three points in the final three games as he unleashed the blistering accelerations and silky drop shots that have defined his career on tour. At 39, he became the oldest man in the Open Era to deliver a bagel at a Masters 1000 event, a record that speaks to the extraordinary longevity of his talent. On one of the final points of the set, Monfils saved a break point with his trademark leaping overhead smash, drawing a roar from the Montreal crowd.
The third set saw Tien's youth and consistency prevail as the 20-year-old American regained his composure to close out 6-3. But nobody in the stands truly cared about the final result. The show Monfils delivered throughout the match was worth far more than any scoreboard victory.
The moment that said it all
The most striking scene came after match point. Tien approached Monfils at the net to ask for his autograph on a tennis ball. The gesture from the young American, full of respect and admiration for the man who inspired him, moved the entire IGA Stadium crowd. In a single image, everything was captured: the 20-year-old prodigy paying tribute to the 39-year-old showman, the future saluting the past. Tien, who grew up watching Monfils's highlights online, did not hide his emotion when speaking to reporters after the match.
Visibly moved, Monfils then took the microphone to address the Montreal crowd. "Montreal really has a special place for me," he said, before thanking the tournament organisers and the fans who have supported him year after year. The Frenchman will continue his farewell tour through the end of the season, with one final US Open in September where he is entered in singles and mixed doubles with his wife Elina Svitolina.
Montreal moves on without mercy
Beyond the emotion, Day 5 saw the draw continue to take shape. Alex de Minaur, the third seed and now the highest-ranked player remaining after the exits of Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, dispatched Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-3 with an authority that positions him among the tournament favourites. The Australian was never troubled, dictating rallies with his court speed and rock-solid returning. Frances Tiafoe mounted a convincing comeback against Arthur Rinderknech in three sets after dropping the opener. Mariano Navone pulled off a surprise by eliminating Arthur Fils: trailing 1-6 in the first set, the Argentine fought back to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, capitalising on a dip in form from his opponent over the final two sets.
Key numbers
Monfils departs the Canadian Open with a historic age record at a Masters 1000 and a perfect set as his parting gift in Montreal. Tien, 20 years old and seeded 12th, will face Tommy Paul in the third round. De Minaur dropped just six games against Norrie, confirming his rising form on North American hard courts. The Canadian Open, now without its top four seeds, enters a decisive phase on Friday with a round of 16 as open as any Masters 1000 in recent memory.
