Monfils Exits Indian Wells in Emotional Loss to Auger-Aliassime

Indian Wells, California, March 6, 2026 - Gael Monfils waved goodbye to the BNP Paribas Open on Friday with a standing ovation from the crowd after a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 second-round loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime, marking an emotional milestone in the 39-year-old Frenchman's final season on the ATP Tour. In a separate highlight of the day, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka powered through to the third round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Japan's Himeno Sakatsume, while debuting a sparkling engagement ring from her recent proposal.

Monfils, known for his acrobatic style and crowd-pleasing flair, entered the tournament on a wildcard and had advanced by defeating qualifier Alexis Galarneau 6-3, 6-4 in the first round on Wednesday. His matchup against the ninth-seeded Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian riding a strong start to the season, proved competitive. The pair split the first two sets before Auger-Aliassime pulled ahead in the decider, securing his place in the third round. This was their third career meeting, with each player having won once previously on indoor hard courts; Friday's outdoor hard-court clash marked a first for both.

The defeat carried extra weight for Monfils, who...