Naomi Osaka credits Gael Monfils for inspiring Black tennis talent globally
Naomi Osaka praised Gael Monfils for inspiring generations of Black tennis players, saying his success had a huge impact on the sport globally. Ahead of his farewell French Open campaign, Monfils said he was proud to have shown young Black athletes that they too could succeed in tennis.
Naomi Osaka paid an emotional tribute to Gael Monfils ahead of his final appearance at the French Open, crediting the French veteran for inspiring generations of Black tennis players around the world. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion herself, described Monfils as one of the players she looked up to while growing up.
Monfils, now 39, announced that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season after more than two decades on the ATP Tour. While he never captured a Grand Slam title, Monfils became one of the most loved figures in tennis because of his electrifying athleticism, showmanship and fearless style of play.
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Speaking at Roland Garros, Osaka explained how much it meant for young Black players to see athletes like Monfils succeed on the global stage.
"Yeah, seeing representation is so important, and on the women's side, for me growing up, I had Serena and Venus (Williams), so I was so grateful to them,” Osaka said.
"On the men's side I always looked up to him and (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga for such a long time. It's just so important. And obviously there's a wave of Black French guys coming up. I can see that he's inspired ... a lot of players here,” Osaka said.
"I really love the way he carries himself and the way he represents us. He's just such a really cool guy. It's nice to talk to him now, because we talk about our kids. It's just a funny thing to have in common with him," Osaka added.
MONFILS INSPIRING BLACK PLAYERS
Monfils himself admitted that he is only now beginning to understand the scale of his influence. Reflecting on his career, he said he was grateful if he had inspired Black players to believe they could make it in tennis.
"Of course, now that I'm finishing, I think I'll see a bit more. I think when you're in it, it's tough to look around (and see) how much influence you have had. I'm very grateful if I've inspired some players,” Monfils told reporters.
"Of course I know some young kids, they like my style, the way I play, the way I move, for the Black community also to see someone on the tour ... I think it was important. I inspired some Black players to say yeah, they can make it ... So I'll see it a bit later and during this last year," Monfils added.
Ahead of his farewell French Open campaign, Roland Garros organised a special “Gael & Friends” exhibition on Court Philippe-Chatrier featuring stars such as Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Osaka herself. The celebration underlined Monfils’ enduring popularity and the impact he has had on tennis culture globally.
Naomi Osaka paid an emotional tribute to Gael Monfils ahead of his final appearance at the French Open, crediting the French veteran for inspiring generations of Black tennis players around the world. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion herself, described Monfils as one of the players she looked up to while growing up.
Monfils, now 39, announced that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season after more than two decades on the ATP Tour. While he never captured a Grand Slam title, Monfils became one of the most loved figures in tennis because of his electrifying athleticism, showmanship and fearless style of play.
Also Read: Ruthless Jannik Sinner can be exposed at the French Open. Here's how
Speaking at Roland Garros, Osaka explained how much it meant for young Black players to see athletes like Monfils succeed on the global stage.
"Yeah, seeing representation is so important, and on the women's side, for me growing up, I had Serena and Venus (Williams), so I was so grateful to them,” Osaka said.
"On the men's side I always looked up to him and (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga for such a long time. It's just so important. And obviously there's a wave of Black French guys coming up. I can see that he's inspired ... a lot of players here,” Osaka said.
"I really love the way he carries himself and the way he represents us. He's just such a really cool guy. It's nice to talk to him now, because we talk about our kids. It's just a funny thing to have in common with him," Osaka added.
MONFILS INSPIRING BLACK PLAYERS
Monfils himself admitted that he is only now beginning to understand the scale of his influence. Reflecting on his career, he said he was grateful if he had inspired Black players to believe they could make it in tennis.
"Of course, now that I'm finishing, I think I'll see a bit more. I think when you're in it, it's tough to look around (and see) how much influence you have had. I'm very grateful if I've inspired some players,” Monfils told reporters.
"Of course I know some young kids, they like my style, the way I play, the way I move, for the Black community also to see someone on the tour ... I think it was important. I inspired some Black players to say yeah, they can make it ... So I'll see it a bit later and during this last year," Monfils added.
Ahead of his farewell French Open campaign, Roland Garros organised a special “Gael & Friends” exhibition on Court Philippe-Chatrier featuring stars such as Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Osaka herself. The celebration underlined Monfils’ enduring popularity and the impact he has had on tennis culture globally.
