This is a farewell year for French tennis star Gael Monfils as he comes to New York to bid tennis fans in the Big Apple goodbye.

Yesterday he turned 40 and faced off against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, a promising  22-year-old from Paraguay, on his birthday at the U.S. Open

Monfils has played at the U.S. Open for eighteen years and ten years ago made the semi-finals. The mercurial Frenchman is known for his trick shots and extraordinary athleticism, but he has been as high as World No. 6 and can be a handful for the very best. He is not just about fancy play. He has had a long, impactful career, and he will be missed.

When he dropped the first set, 2-6, one thought here we go, this could be the French Open again, and tonight they will roll out the red carpet for his farewell.

Monfil’s head did not go down, and he started to play more attacking tennis, bringing it to the young Paraguayan.

Reflecting on the match, Monfils said: “ In the first set, I felt a lot of tension. I tried, but it didn’t go in. I finish my strokes badly. But, really, I don’t feel bad. But I still have this fear of giving 100 per cent because I don’t have a madman’s fuel tank.

“I managed to get that out of my head. Above all, I was really hitting the ball well in practice the days before. So I just calmed down. Actually, there are rallies; I feel I can sustain them.” I didn’t want to lose in the first round, that’s for sure. Somehow I felt like even with a sloppy start, I could do better. I kept going for my shots, being versatile with my backhand, and tried to use my forehand.. My rhythm was there, and then I had this feeling where I could be in cruise control.

Monfils won the next three sets 6-1,6-2, 6-0. He was the oldest man in the draw with his friends and contemporaries Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka going out in the first round. 

“ To play on my 40th birthday is very special. The atmosphere is always electric at the U.S. Open. I feel great here. I always try to play great tennis and put on a show. I felt like I was in better shape on this U.S. Open hard court. It’s been very long, but good at the same time that I could stay and practice every day with top players and feel this great striking and confidence again.”

Last night he hit 37 winners and was successful 15 times at the net.  He next plays the 14th seed, Learner Tien. 

The victor continued: “ At the start of the match I can sustain, hang in there, but I don’t want to, because I’m thinking too far ahead about the energy I need to save. But I keep going, and I get into my match, and I only thought about the match.

“ I’m happy with what I did against a 22-year-old guy. Beating a little 22-year-old kid comfortably, that’s cool. Yes, it feels good.”

Gael Monfils put in the work for this one, knuckled down and took training seriously. He elaborated on this, saying, “ It was important to get there. I was training with the guys at the tournaments, but with few victories, it was a bit long though. But I really wanted to win a match, play well and be competitive.

“It was important I pushed the training. I’m not playing at my “prime,” that’s for sure, but I’m playing better, and I feel like I’m a bit harder for the young guys to handle.

“Special number, 40, and playing a good match, so it was special. I think my best birthday was…I can’t remember, but it was back, you know, with my family. That definitely was the best one. But this one, let’s say, I will put it in the top 10.