Atp Paris opened this week for its 40th edition, with Arthur Fils, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic among the players in the draw. The tournament also comes with a farewell moment for Gaël Monfils, who will be honored on 3 November.
That date matters because Monfils has said he will be able to say goodbye in person, after deciding to prepare something before the end of his career. His tribute at the Rolex Masters is set for Tuesday 3 November, after the first night session match at 19h00, with what he described as a major show for the crowd.
The draw gives the event a clear shape. Zverev, Shelton, Tiafoe and De Minaur were listed in the top half, while Alcaraz, Medvedev, Cobolli and Fils were placed in the bottom half. Beyond those headliners, the main draw also includes Ugo Humbert, Arthur Gea, Quentin Halys, Luca Van Assche, Arthur Rinderknech, Titouan Droguet, Kyrian Jacquet and Moïse Kouame, while Benjamin Bonzi reached the main draw after qualifying.
For Monfils, the farewell carries a harder edge than a simple curtain call. He said his separation from Elina Svitolina affected him psychologically and made it impossible to train and stay competitive in that state, which is why the idea of a planned retirement has been complicated by events away from the court. Even so, he said he did not want to leave in silence and thanked the family of French tennis for standing by him.
The next marker is already fixed: the tribute on 3 November, after the first night session match at 19h00. What remains open is the path the draw will take from there, and whether the 40th edition becomes a stage for the players in the field or for the farewell of one of its most familiar figures.
