French tennis player Gael Monfiss kicked off his US Open 2026 campaign on his 40th birthday, turning his first main-draw match into a genuine celebration. During the post-match interview at Louis Armstrong Stadium, thousands of fans staged a surprise for the athlete, singing 'Happy Birthday.' This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the official US Open account on X (Twitter). Monfiss's wife, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina, joined the crowd in singing and, according to Gael himself, gifted him a watch for his milestone birthday.

Triumph After a Nerve-Wracking First Set

Despite a tense start to the match and a loss in the opening set, the 40-year-old Frenchman completely seized the initiative and demolished Adolfo Vallejo in the following three sets. This victory not only advanced Monfiss to the second round but also etched his name into the tournament's history. 'Playing on my 40th birthday is something special. The atmosphere in New York is always electric, and I feel wonderful here. I always try to play great tennis and put on a brilliant show,' Monfiss shared after the match.

A Record Shared with a Legend

Thanks to his win over Vallejo, Monfiss matched an achievement that had previously belonged to just one tennis player. Jimmy Connors also won a main-draw match at the US Open on his 40th birthday in 1992. Thus, the Frenchman became the oldest tennis player to win a main-draw match at the tournament, sharing this distinction with the American legend. In addition, Monfiss set a new record for the most Grand Slam wins by a Frenchman — he now has 131 victories to his name.

The Start of a Tradition at Louis Armstrong Stadium

Singing 'Happy Birthday' at Louis Armstrong Stadium appears to be becoming a new tradition. Earlier, fans on the same court had similarly congratulated American player Amanda Anisimova on her birthday. Fact-checking of this episode revealed no contradictions: both versions of events are confirmed by the tournament's official account and the Sport RBC.UA report. A separate 'Contradictory Data' block is not required in this article, as all key figures (age, set score, number of wins) are consistent between the source and the official US Open data.

Context: Svitolina Also Started Strongly

It is worth noting that Elina Svitolina, who was supporting her husband from the stands that day, herself opened her US Open 2026 campaign with a crushing victory. Thus, the Monfiss–Svitolina couple simultaneously presented the audience with two impressive starts at the American major, and their joint appearance at Louis Armstrong Stadium became one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament's first day.