Monfils Bows Out in Style as Zverev Grinds On at US Open

There was a moment on Thursday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium when the noise became something else entirely — not a roar, but a wave of pure affection rolling down from the stands. "Mon-fils! Mon-fils!" The chants didn't stop, even after the last ball had been struck, even after the scoreboard read 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 against him. This wasn't a defeat. This was a farewell party for one of tennis's great entertainers, and Gael Monfils, on his 40th birthday week, soaked in every second of it.

Monfils bows out as Zverev grinds into US Open third round

Johannesburg, South Africa — The 2026 US Open at Flushing Meadows delivered a night of contrasting emotions this week: the end of an era for French showman Gael Monfils, and another marathon survival act from German world No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who keeps finding ways to win ugly and win long. For South African fans watching on SuperSport in the early hours, it was a reminder of why this tournament remains the most dramatic fortnight on the tennis calendar.

A Birthday Win for the Ages

Monfils arrived in New York knowing this would be his final Grand Slam appearance. The Parisian, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Tuesday, had announced at the start of the 2026 season that he would retire at year's end, and Flushing Meadows was to be his last major stage. He marked the occasion in the most fitting way possible — a first-round victory over Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo that took him to 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 and made him the oldest man to win a US Open main-draw match since Jimmy Connors in 1992. Connors, remarkably, also won on his 40th birthday.

That win was Monfils's 34th at the US Open — the most ever by a Frenchman in New York — and the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium serenaded him long into the night. It was a moment that connected generations: the teenager who first came to Flushing Meadows in 2005 as a raw junior, losing a five-set first-round epic to Novak Djokovic, now a 40-year-old legend still capable of producing magic.

The Final Bow Against Learner Tien

Thursday night brought the curtain down. Monfils faced American 14th seed Learner Tien, a 20-year-old — exactly half his age — who had beaten him in Montreal last month and then asked for the autograph of his childhood idol. Tien was superb, mixing relentless defence with audacious dropshots that left the veteran chasing shadows. Monfils fought to the end, but Tien's mix of court coverage and touch proved too much as the American closed out a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

After the final point, Tien walked to the net and joked: "Sorry for dropshotting you so much tonight." Monfils cracked a smile, and the two embraced warmly. The packed stadium rose as one, chanting his name one final time. The on-court retirement ceremony featured USTA CEO Craig Tiley and tournament director Eric Butorac presenting Monfils with a special framed picture. There were no tears — only smiles from a man who has always played with joy.

"I want to thank you all," Monfils told the crowd. "It has been a long ride. I came here in 2003 for the juniors for the first time and here I am in 2026, so it's a helluva long ride. I felt all the love... you guys are my second-best crowd, of course after Paris."

La Monf: A Career of Spectacle

Monfils leaves the Grand Slam stage with a remarkable CV: 13 ATP Tour titles, a career-high world No. 6 ranking in 2016, and two Grand Slam semi-finals — at Roland Garros in 2008 and the US Open in 2016. His 34-18 record across 18 US Open main draws speaks to his consistency in New York, but the numbers only tell half the story. This was a player who made tennis feel like performance art, famous for his athleticism, his between-the-legs shots, and celebrations that became known simply as "La Monf."

His next chapter is decidedly more sedate. Monfils has signed to work in wealth management at a Swiss company. "I will work in finance," he said with a grin. But before he hangs up his racquet for good, there was one more treat for New York: he played mixed doubles at this US Open with his wife, Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina, and the couple reached the semi-finals. Monfils joked it was the first and last time they would play tournament tennis together.

He wasn't the only veteran saying goodbye this fortnight. Japan's Kei Nishikori fell in qualifying, while Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka went out in the first round. The changing of the guard is well and truly underway.

Zverev, the Marathon Man

While Monfils was bowing out gracefully, Alexander Zverev was busy grinding his way through the draw in the most Zverev way possible. The German, world No. 2 and top seed at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, has made a habit of winning long matches in 2026. He claimed his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June, finished runner-up at Wimbledon, and reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open. He's the first man to reach 20 Grand Slam wins in a season, sitting at 20-2.

His first-round match against Lorenzo Sonego needed five sets and nearly five hours, finishing around 2:15 a.m. Thursday night brought more of the same: a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 victory over France's Quentin Halys that lasted 4 hours 33 minutes and ended around 2 a.m. again. Zverev fired 29 aces and survived a match where Halys, ranked 52nd, threw everything at him — 63 unforced errors to Zverev's 49 — but couldn't convert his opportunities.

Zverev was characteristically blunt afterwards. "The performance was s**t to be honest. But, I won, and that's the most important thing. I've been here for another four and a half hours. 2:15 a.m. again. That's what I go to the gym for... to be able to come out on top of these difficult moments when you're not playing best."

A Wide-Open Draw

The context makes Zverev's survival even more significant. Novak Djokovic lost in the first round. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is out injured. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is back after a long injury layoff and has already reached the last 16. The draw has opened up like never before, and Zverev — despite his struggles — is the highest-ranked player left standing.

His next test comes this weekend against Chile's 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo. Zverev leads their head-to-head 2-0, including a straight-sets first-round win at last year's US Open. Tabilo is hungry for revenge. "I'm more prepared; I know I have nothing to lose," he said. Zverev will need to find his best form quickly if he's to avoid a third consecutive five-setter — but if there's one thing he's proven this fortnight, it's that he can go the distance.

The South African Connection

For South African tennis fans, this US Open has been about more than just the big names. Cape Town's Lloyd Harris, 29, South Africa's top-ranked man at world No. 139 and a former world No. 31, came through three rounds of qualifying with typical grit — including a marathon deciding tie-break 12-10 against Portugal's Henrique Rocha after losing the first set, before beating Spain's Pablo Llamas Ruiz. His reward was a first-round clash with American wildcard Jack Kennedy, which Harris won 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 with 16 aces in just 1 hour 43 minutes.

Wednesday brought a sterner test: former world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, now ranked 53rd and unseeded at a Slam for the first time in his career. Harris took the first set tie-break 7-1 and looked the more settled player early, but Tsitsipas reset and ground out a 6-7(1), 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-4 victory in 3 hours 27 minutes. It was a revenge win for the Greek, who had lost all five previous meetings with Harris. The South African, who reached the US Open quarter-finals in 2021, said after qualifying: "I've had my fair share of physical issues, so it feels nice to be healthy, competing for every point."

Then there's Kgothatso Montjane, South Africa's wheelchair tennis trailblazer born in Seshego, Polokwane in Limpopo. She's chasing the one big prize that has eluded her: a maiden Grand Slam singles title. Montjane has won major doubles crowns with Japan's Yui Kamiji — including Wimbledon 2024, making her the first black South African woman to win a title at the All England Club, plus Roland Garros doubles titles in 2023 and 2025. With the US Open the final major of the year, New York is her immediate mission.

What This Means for SA Tennis

South African tennis rarely gets the spotlight at Slam time, but Harris's qualifying grit and Montjane's sustained excellence show the depth that exists despite limited resources. The cost of the pro tour for SA players — travel, coaching, physio — remains a significant barrier, and Tennis SA's development pathways are often stretched thin. Yet players keep emerging, keep fighting, and keep flying the flag.

A deep Slam run can transform a career: prize money, ranking points, sponsorship opportunities. Harris's 2021 quarter-final run in New York remains the benchmark for what's possible, and his qualifying heroics this year — coming through three matches just to reach the main draw — demonstrate the hunger that still exists. Montjane, meanwhile, continues to inspire a generation of young South Africans with disabilities to pick up a racquet and dream.

As the US Open heads into its second week, the storylines are rich: Zverev chasing a second Grand Slam title in a season that's already historic, Alcaraz's comeback, and the farewell of one of tennis's most beloved characters. For South African fans, there's the added pride of watching Harris and Montjane compete on the biggest stage — proof that despite the challenges, SA tennis still has plenty to offer the world.

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Sources: Al Jazeera English, ATP Tour, US Open official site, Associated Press.

By Dante Williams, Staff Writer