By winning this Saturday the 13th title of his career after beating the Belgian Zizou Bergs (6-3, 6-4) in the final of the ATP 250 in Auckland (New Zealand), Gaël Monfils became at 38 years old and 4 months the oldest player to be crowned on the main circuit since 1977.
A first since the creation of the ATP Tour in 1990. Winner this Saturday, January 11 of the Belgian Zizou Bergs (6-3, 6-4) in the final of the ATP 250 in Auckland (New Zealand), Gaël Monfils is became at 38 years and 4 months the oldest player to be crowned on the main circuit since 1977.
With this 13th title of his career, “La Monf” became on Saturday the oldest player to win a tournament on the main circuit since the Australian Ken Rosewall, winner in 1977 in Hong Kong at over 43 years old.
“Age is one thing, but I continue to work, to be able to produce good tennis. The first title was 20 years ago and I still have a passion for tennis. This is an incredible week for many reasons. Winning here is beautiful. It’s the first time I’ve come back here in twelve years and to be able to lift the trophy, for me, it’s special,” assured the 52nd player in the world in an interview with L’Équipe.
The French tennis player had not won a trophy on the main circuit since the ATP 250 in Stockholm (Sweden), in October 2023.
Gaël Monfils erases Roger Federer from the shelves
The record for the oldest winner on the ATP circuit (created in 1990) was until now held by Swiss star Roger Federer, who won at home in Basel (Switzerland) in 2019, at 38 years and 2 months.
-“It’s a record. And you’re always happy to own a record. But I want to do a little more, I want to play a little more and I hope to be able to win a little more later,” confided Gaël Monfils about his performance in the columns of the sports newspaper.
The year 2019 was special from this point of view, because the Swiss had already obtained this record earlier by winning the title in Halle (Germany) at the age of 37 years and 10 months, thus erasing Feliciano Lopez and his coronation at Queen’s (England) at 37 years and 9 months.
Last December, Gaël Monfils told AFP that he had “zero dates” in mind regarding the end of his career. “I don’t have a specific objective other than having fun, trying to win as many matches as I can,” said the tennis player.
For his entry into the Australian Open this Tuesday, January 14, Gaël Monfils will face another French player, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (30th player in the world). For the anecdote, the two players were seated side by side on the plane taking them to Australia, said the cadet.
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