Gael Monfils is mending at a rapid pace after quitting tennis in the wake of his wife Elina Svitolina divorcing him. The 40-year-old French icon will take over as Davis Cup captain, tennis bosses announced in Paris on saturday.

WTA top 10 player Svitolina hit Monfils with a bombshell last month, announcing she will divorce him due to personal factors and the stress of the war in her native Ukraine.

Monfils then immediately moved forward his autumn, 2026 retirement, skipping out on his final two tournaments, including this week at the Paris Masters.

But his luck may be changing with the revelation of his new position which will keep him heavily involved with the sport.

Monfils takes over from Paul-Henri Mathieu and will be working on the team with fellow former players Richard Gasquet and Giles Simon.

The 13-time ATP title winner Monfils said: “It is a great source of pride to become captain of the French national team.

“This blue jersey represents so much to me. I want to build a real collective project and create the dynamic that will allow us to win titles together.”

During his own career, Monfils made his Davis debut in 2009 and ended 12-3 in singles matches.

Carlos Alcaraz will get a chance to avenge a recent loss as he faces off against Ben Shelton in the final of the Paris Masters on Sunday.

Two months ago, the American knocked out then-world No. 1 Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the US open, dealing a blow to the 23-year-old Spaniard.

But Saturday’s  6-4, 6-4 win by Alcaraz over Casper Ruud in the semi-finals sets up the revenge final in the French capital.

Alcaraz earned a pedestrian win over the Norwegian, providing just enough energy to reach a third final from his last four tournaments.

He won titles in Tokyo and Vienna, going out in the Shanghai third round.

 “I want to take revenge against Ben,” Alcaraz said. “”I’ll try to do things differently in this match.

“I’m sure it will be a great one to watch.”

Alcaraz was untroubled by Ruud, whom he now leads 7-1 in their career series. The Paris second seed will play his 11th Masters final when he takes on Shelton, who defeated France’s Luca Van Assche in a three-set fightback.

Alcaraz took 86 minutes to reach the title match, ending with 20 winners.

“I’m really happy and proud of myself,” said the player who missed a third of the season with a spring-summer wrist injury, 

“This tournament has always been tough for me, I struggle every time I come here.

“But this has been an unusual year for me (injury absence) and I’m much fresher and more ambitious.

“I’m excited every time I step onto the court, I”m excited to be back. And happy to make the final.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow, I give myself a chance.”

Main photo:-Carlos Alcaraz into Paris Masters final – by ISF Ltd

Ben Shelton came from a set down for for the second time this week on Saturday, overhauling Frenchman Luca van Assche 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 a the Paris Masters to book his sixth final of the season.

The US third seed had to work his way out of trouble against an inspired local underdog, who had the full support of fans in the capital.

Shelton, winner of four titles this season – including a repeat of the Canadian Masters title of a year earlier – will play Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final after he beat Casper Ruud

The 47th-ranked Van Assche snuck out the opening  set with a late break of serve but fell behind a break in the second as Shelton eventually levelled.

In the third, the Frenchman earned a 3-1 lead but nerves kicked in as he lost his own serve a game later. Shelton broke again for 4-3 on his way to victory after two and a quarter hours on a second match point, a winner down the line.

“I found  my rhythm in the second set and tried to cut down on errors,”
 the winner said after advancing to the Sunday final with 25 winners and 27 unforced errors – 17 of them in the opening set. 

“I got better and better as the match went on. It’s tough out here. You can see the finish line but it’s not always easy to close it out.

“I keep looking for some little crack and chance where I can execute I need to stay brave until there is a window.

.”Being competitive is one of the best parts of my game, it keeps me in matches.”

Main photo:- Ben Shelton makes his entrance before beating Luca van AAsche – by ISF Ltd