David Goffin has officially played his final match at the Monte Carlo Masters, having lost in qualifying earlier today.
The 35-year-old had shown incredible resolve to come from a set down to beat Ignacio Buse in his first match, but American Emilio Nava proved a step too far.
However, at the very least, he exited Monaco with a bang, taking his opponent to a dramatic third-set tiebreak to decide the result.
Sadly, it did not go his way, and just over a week after Goffin announced he’d be retiring from tennis, he has now lost at Monte Carlo for the last time.
David Goffin reacts after losing his last-ever match in Monte Carlo
Speaking to the press after his defeat, the Belgian cut an upbeat figure, seemingly at peace with his decision.
Discussing the match, Goffin began by claiming: “Yeah, yeah, of course. But I just wanted to give everything for that match, my last tournament here at Monaco, a tournament that I love, so I had just to give everything, even if from the start it was tough. I just had to fight, find some solutions, try to win as many matches. And it was not the case today.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
“Yesterday was great to beat a great player, and today was also a great player. At the end, yeah, it was tough, but I gave everything, and I tried to find solutions to the end. But it was a dramatic match, it was fun, and I really enjoyed that match.”
Then asked about his retirement and the reasons behind it, he offered a crucial insight, including when he actually came to the conclusion.
He added: “Not for that long, but, yeah, for many weeks now, and the end of the last season [it] was not easy.
“I mean, the second part of last season was not easy because I was top 50 and then I had a foot injury for a few months, and then at the end of the year, it was my knee for a few months as well. I started the season pretty late this year, so it was not only physically, but it was part of the decision, of course. It was also mentally, it has an impact on my mental motivation, and then the ranking dropped a little bit.
“So you just have to ask yourself what you’re ready to do to come back in the top 100, or top 50? You know what you have to do, the effort you have to do, and sometimes you just have to be honest with yourself and say, ‘Am I ready to do it?’ And for me, I think it’s not easy, because we have to make a lot of effort to come back, and I’m not sure that physically, I’m ready for that.
“So yeah, the decision was not easy to take, but at the end I’m happy with my decision, and I feel now that it’s the right moment.”
What other ATP players are retiring this year?
Goffin is not the only ATP player calling time on his career in 2026, and sadly for him, his retirement might be overshadowed by some of his contemporaries.
After all, Stan Wawrinka’s retirement is certainly the biggest blow of the season, with the Swiss superstar still more than capable of performing at the top level despite being 41 years old.
Stan Wawrinka or Andy Murray… who is the greater player? Let us know why below 👇
Gael Monfils is another who will end his sparkling playing career this year as well, with tennis set to lose one of its most entertaining figures as the French magician departs the sport.
Goffin enjoyed an impressive career during one of the toughest eras in the sport’s history. However, he never quite tasted the Grand Slam success that Wawrinka managed to amass on three separate occasions.
