Gael Monfils, at 38, captured the ATP title in Auckland, becoming the oldest winner before retiring from the Australian Open due to injury. Despite impressive performances, his long matches took a toll.
After his historic win, Monfils returned to Margaret Court Arena and sat in the stands to watch his wife, Svitolina, eliminate the women's No. 4 seed, two-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 at night.
Monfils was struggling with a back injury at the start of the fourth set as Ben Shelton advanced to the quarter-finals
French tennis star Gaël Monfils became the oldest ever player to claim an ATP Tour singles title when he won the ASB Classic in Auckland on Saturday, surpassing the previous record set by Roger Federer in 2019.
The 19th-seeded Shelton looks to match his best major showing, a semifinal at the 2023 US Open. Earlier that year, Shelton advanced to the last eight Down Under on his first international trip. Fellow unseeded American, Tommy Paul, ultimately ended that run.
French veteran Gaël Monfils rolled back the years to stun the USA’s No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday, winning 3-6 7-5 7-6(1) 6-4 after three hours and eight minutes of scintillating tennis.
Former world number six Gael Monfils clinched a 7-6(5) 6-4 win over Nishesh Basavareddy in the Auckland Classic semi-finals on Friday to become the second-oldest player to reach an ATP Tour final since 1990.
Gael Monfils is like a fine wine - he gets better with age! The 38-year-old will compete in his 35th ATP final in Auckland following a 7-6, 6-4 victory over the young American Nishesh Basavareddy in an hour and 46 minutes.