PARIS — Perennial crowd favorite and former world No 6-ranked Gael Monfils says he will retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season.

At 39, the French veteran, renowned for his spectacular style of play and athleticism, announced Wednesday in a message posted on social media that "the year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player".

"I held a racket in my hands for the first time at two-and-a-half, and began playing professionally at 18," Monfils wrote. "The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career. Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision."

Monfils has won 13 titles. His best results at Grand Slams are two semifinals, at the 2008 French Open and 2016 US Open.

"While I came close, I never did win a Grand Slam during my career. I won't pretend that I expect to do so during the next year," Monfils said, adding that he has no regrets.

"What I do have is the feeling that I have been lucky: insanely, stupidly lucky," he said. "I've had the chance to play during a golden age of tennis, alongside some of the greatest names in the history of our sport: (Roger) Federer, (Rafael) Nadal, (Novak) Djokovic, (Andy) Murray."

Following in the footsteps of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet, he is the last member of a group of talented French players dubbed "The Musketeers" to call it quits.

In January, Monfils became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title, achieving the feat in Auckland, New Zealand, when he claimed his 13th tour title 20 years after his first at the age of 38 years and 132 days. He took over from Federer, who was 38 years and 74 days old when he won the final tour title of his career, the Swiss Indoor title at Basel in 2019.

Monfils married Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina in 2021 and the couple have a daughter together. Monfils is currently ranked 53rd.

"To every person who ever cheered, or shouted in real life or at a TV screen: 'Allez, Gael!' Your energy and love are truly everything to me," Monfils said.

Agencies via Xinhua