Tennis essentials for 14 October: Monfils officially retired, Medvedev into the quarters, Sabalenka and Pegula out in Wuhan

The day began with a farewell: Gaël Monfils has been officially retired since 5 October, the ITIA confirmed on Wednesday. The rest played out in Shanghai, where the quarter-finals are taking shape, and in Wuhan, where the women’s draw lost its top two seeds in one afternoon.

Monfils officially retired since 5 October

His name has sat on the ITIA’s retired-players list since 5 October, and the confirmation came on Wednesday: Gaël Monfils is no longer allowed to play ATP events. His last match dates back to 3 September, second round of the US Open on Louis Armstrong. Thirteen titles, semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2008 and at the US Open in 2016, sixth in the world in the same season: the record stands. Our report on his retirement.

Lyon pays tribute, the 24 October exhibition stays on

The Lyon tournament announced his withdrawal: “For personal reasons, Gaël Monfils will not be able to honour the wild card… We fully respect his decision and send him all our support.” The 24 October exhibition remains on the schedule, with Lucas Pouille alongside Tsonga, Gasquet and Simon, during the tournament’s first edition, from 18 to 25 October at the LDLC Arena. Our report on the withdrawal.

Medvedev sees off Tsitsipas (6-4, 7-5) and salutes Monfils

In their sixteenth meeting, Daniil Medvedev controlled Stefanos Tsitsipas from start to finish: 6-4, 7-5, and a place in the Shanghai Masters 1000 quarter-finals. “He was too good,” the Greek admitted as he left the court. Asked about Monfils, Medvedev kept it simple: “Nobody will find anything negative to say about him.” L’Équipe’s match report.

In Wuhan, Sabalenka and Pegula out at the first hurdle

The top two seeds, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, lost their opening match in Wuhan. Sabalenka, dethroned at the US Open by Elena Rybakina after saving nine match points, had just gone out in her second match in Beijing: her end of season darkens by the week. L’Équipe’s report.

Auger-Aliassime retires against Ruud (knee)

Félix Auger-Aliassime, ranked sixth, retired in his Shanghai last sixteen against Casper Ruud, trailing 2-5, with knee pain. “I tried to keep playing, but the pain was too sharp,” he explained before returning home for examinations. Still entered in Brussels, he plays his Masters place on the state of that knee. Our report.

Jódar warned over a towel, a quarter-final against Ruud

Joan Jódar, 20 years old and ranked 13th, reached the quarter-finals by beating Botic van de Zandschulp (6-7, 6-4, 6-2). The match left an incident above all: the player demanded his towel from a ball kid in crude terms, then disputed the umpire’s warning. He had already been accused of shoving a ball kid at Roland Garros. His quarter-final sets him against Casper Ruud, ranked 24th. Our report.

Six Kings Slam pushed back to late December

The Saudi exhibition scheduled from 21 to 24 October in Riyadh with Alcaraz, Djokovic and Zverev has been moved to 27-30 December, after the attacks targeting Riyadh’s airport. The organisers cite the “security situation”; the postponement frees a few days in the three players’ end-of-season schedule. L’Équipe’s announcement.