The French champion thus becomes the oldest winner on the main circuit since 1977.
French tennis veteran Gaël Monfils won the 13th title of his career on Saturday at the ATP 250 in Auckland (New Zealand), becoming at 38 years and four months the oldest winner on the main circuit since 1977.
The 52nd player in the world beat 6-3, 6-4 the Belgian Zizou Bergs (66th), who was playing his first ATP final at the age of 25, to win his first trophy since the ATP 250 in Stockholm, in October 2023.
Thanks to his victory in Auckland, the Parisian on Saturday became 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 just a number”
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 in 2019, at 38 years and 2 months.
“Legend”congratulated him on X his compatriot Corentin Moutet (69th). For Lucas Pouille (104th), “Keeping this physical shape and his movement skills at his age proves that he is made differently.” “He just has magical powers!” he exclaimed in Melbourne, on the eve of starting the Australian Open (January 12-26) against world No.2 Alexander Zverev.
“Age is just a number”commented Monfils on the court. “I continue to believe that I can produce quality tennis, I showed it this week so I’m really happy”he continued.
“Have fun”
“It’s been a great week for so many reasons. Of course the victory is magnificent”but the Frenchman also demonstrated “resilience in the face of adversity”he congratulated himself after almost being eliminated as soon as he entered the fray by the Spaniard Pedro Martinez (43rd).
Monfils started the game ideally on Saturday by breaking Bergs in his first service game, to quickly lead 3-0. He maintained his advantage to pocket the first set 6-3.
In the second set, despite fierce resistance from the Belgian, an early break was once again enough for him to win (6-4).
While his contemporaries Gilles Simon (40) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (39) have put away their rackets, and Richard Gasquet (38) will do the same in the spring, Monfils has “zero date” in mind to end his own career, he confided to AFP in December.
“I don’t have a specific objective other than having fun, trying to win as many matches as I can”he said.
Ideal preparation before the Australian Open.
A week after the surprise triumph of Alexandre Müller (56th) in Hong Kong, the victory of “The Monf” in Auckland confirms the good start to the season for French players and represents an ideal preparation before the Australian Open.
In Melbourne, where he reached the quarter-finals twice (2016 and 2022), Monfils will challenge his compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (30th) in the first round.
The match will have the feel of a clash of generations against this formidable server, winner in particular of the ATP 500 in Basel at the end of October, at only 21 years old.
By coincidence, the two players were seated side by side on the plane to Australia, the cadet said.
“What was funny was that he said to me ‘I’ve had a 21-year career, you’re 21’. This is where we quickly understood the gap between the two of us”sourit Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Related News :