Gael Monfils might be playing the final year of his long career in 2026, and he has said as much. While he won't be remembered as a multi-time Grand Slam champion, he will be fondly recalled as a fantastic showman. So will Alexander Bublik, who has a lot longer yet to play.
That's what made the second-round match of the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters between the two players must-watch tennis. The outcome was important, sure, but the match itself was the spectacle. No matter who the winner was, one could bet that the other player turned in enough shots that will be well-remembered after whoever won the match is forgotten.
Bublik and Monfils play tennis for themselves, of course, but they also play the sport for the crowd. They are great at it.
Alexander Bublik defeats Gael Monfils in the second round of the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters
Still, the Monte Carlo Masters matters due to the amount of points that could be earned. Monfils might no longer be playing for a top-10 ranking, but Bublik is, and that might have given him the edge in motivation for taking the match and moving into the third round.
The Kazakhstani has also been the more consistent player over the last several years. He proved as much in the first set, especially dominating Monfils when the Frenchman had to go to a second serve. This helped lead to Bublik getting his second break of the set to jump out to a one-set lead, 6-4.
Neither player was performing perfectly, but Bublik, the eight-seed, was a tick more efficient with eight winners and nine unforced errors, while Monfils had seven and 10, respectively.
In the second set, each player held serve more confidently, with neither facing a break point through the first seven games. The issue was that Monfils needed to up his form even more, or he was going to be forced to leave Monte Carlo before reaching the third round. Coincidentally, Bublik had never made it that far in the Masters event.
After facing a few break points serving at 3-4, though, Monfils was able to hold. The crowd was firmly behind him at that point.
Unfortunately for the fans of the Frenchman, Bublik would convert his break chance as Monfils served at 4-5, and the Kazakhstani took set two 6-4. Tennis lovers will only have the rest of the year to likely enjoy the play of Gael Monfils.
Alexander Bublik will next face the winner of the Jiri Lehecka and Alejandro Tabilo match in round three. Tabilo is more of a clay-court specialist, but Lehecka is playing at an extremely high level currently. Either would make for a tough match for Bublik.