“It is a great honor to captain the French national team,” Monfils said in a statement released by FFT in French. “This blue jersey means a lot to me. I want to build a real collective project and create the momentum that will allow us to go after titles together.”
Monfils spent 22 years on the professional tour. He won 13 ATP titles, the last of which came in Auckland in January 2025, and reached a career high of world No. 6 in 2016. That year he qualified for the ATP Finals, becoming the last Frenchman to do so until Arthur son this week.
Monfils played 14 Davis Cup matches for France between 2009 and 2019 and won 12 of his 15 singles matches, according to the Davis Cup website. He has never won a contest. He lost two finals, in 2010 to Serbia and in 2014 in Lille, Switzerland, when he defeated Roger Federer 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. He was not part of the French team that won the cup in 2017 under the leadership of Yannick Neu.
Gael Monfils in Davis Cup, rubber by rubber
| year | Round | A tie | They will be against it | Result: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Last 16:00 | France 4-1 Holland | Tiemo de Backer | L: 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 4-6 |
| 2010Vice-champion | Last 16:00 | France 4-1 Germany | Philipp Kohlschreiber | V: 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (5) |
| Quarter finals | France 5-0 Spain | David Ferrer | V: 7-6 (3), 6-2, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4 | |
| Semi-final | France 5-0 Argentina | David Nalbandyan | V: 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 | |
| Final: | France 2-3 Serbia | Yanko Tipsarevich | V: 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-0 | |
| Final: | France 2-3 Serbia | Novak Djokovic | L: 2-6, 2-6, 4-6 | |
| 2011 | Quarter finals | France 4-1 Germany | Philipp Kohlschreiber | V: 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4 |
| 2012 | Last 16:00 | France 4-1 Canada | Vasek Pospisil | V: 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2014Vice-champion | Last 16:00 | France 5-0 Australia | Nick Kyrgios | V: 7-6 (5), 6-4 |
| Quarter finals | France 3-2 Germany | Peter Goyovchik | V: 6-1, 7-6 (0), 6-2 | |
| Semi-final | France 4-1 Czech Republic | Lucas Rosol | V: 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 | |
| Final: | France 1-3 Switzerland | Roger Federer | V: 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 | |
| 2015 | Last 16:00 | France 3-2 Germany | Philipp Kohlschreiber | V: 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (4) |
| 2016 | Last 16:00 | France 5-0 Canada | Frank Dansevich | V: 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2019 | Final group stage | France 2-1 Japan | Yoshihito Nishioka | L: 5-7, 2-6 |
Only the single ones. Points from Monfils’ point of view, equal points from France’s point of view. Overall record: 12 wins, 3 losses in 14 draws (source: Davis Cup website).
Simon and Gasquet alongside Monfils in France
The federation said Monfils will have the support of all his teams, especially Simon and Gasquet, to support him in his role and to create the best possible conditions. Gasquet paid tribute to Monfils at Court Center in Paris on Tuesday.
In September, Gasquet and Lucas Pouille were the two names reported as frontrunners for the job.
“We are very happy that Gael is leading the French team,” said FFT President Gilles Moreton. “We are convinced that his infectious energy and enthusiasm will be valuable assets in carrying the ambitions of French tennis.”
Moreton also praised his predecessor. “I also want to pay tribute to the work done by Paul-Henri, who in particular got our team back to the Davis Cup final 8,” he said.