{
  "id": 18087439,
  "title": "Monfils gives emotional farewell in Paris with wish for daughter Skai",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/monfils-gives-emotional-farewell-in-paris-with-wish-for-daughter-skai-18087439",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-04T07:11:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40447373/monfils-gives-emotional-farewell-in-paris-with-wish-for-daughter-skai"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Paris welcomed Gael Monfils in a memorable farewell ceremony on Tuesday, as the tennis star bid adieu to his 22-year career. Despite planning to conclude his professional journey at the Paris Masters, Monfils opted for a quieter retirement last month following the end of his marriage to fellow athlete Elina Svitolina. The French capital turned out in full force to honor their charismatic tennis champion, with fellow French players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet, and Benoit Paire joining Monfils on court for the special occasion.\n\nIn a heartfelt speech, Monfils, aged 40, admitted that saying goodbye was a difficult moment. The tennis legend expressed immense gratitude towards the fans, calling them the most beautiful thing the world had given him. He emphasized that his 22-year career was a dream come true, thanking everyone, both present and those at home, for making his extraordinary story possible.\n\nAmid the emotional send-off, Monfils dedicated a special moment to his young daughter, Skai. Reflecting on the city that had played a significant role in his life, the player acknowledged her father's love for tennis, which brought him up in Paris. Monfils expressed his deepest hopes for Skai, wishing for her to become a great champion and to someday play in Paris. The flamboyant French player, known for his athleticism, flair, and crowd-pleasing style, won 13 ATP Tour singles titles, with his last victory in Auckland in January 2025. Monfils' best Grand Slam performances were reaching the semi-finals of the French Open in 2008 and the US Open in 2016, before ending at this year's US Open, where he lost to Learner Tien in the second round.",
  "summary": "PARIS: Gael Monfils turned his tennis farewell into a message for his young daughter Skai on Tuesday, telling her he hoped she would one day play in Paris as he thanked fans in the French capital for making his 22-year career a dream come true. The flamboyant Frenchman, who had planned to end his career this year with a final bow at this week’s Paris Masters, instead retired quietly last month…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Monfils gives emotional farewell in Paris with wish for daughter Skai",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/monfils-gives-emotional-farewell-in-paris-with-wish-for-daughter-skai",
        "published": "2026-11-04T04:00:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}