Gaël Monfils (38 years old), was forced to retire at the start of the 4th set of his round of 16, against the American Ben Shelton. The Frenchman, surprise hero of the first week, was then trailing 2 sets to 1, after a particularly intense start to the match, where the first three sets ended with a decisive game. At the end of his strength and after discussion with his staff, he threw in the towel at 1-0 in the 4th.
Diminished physically, after more than three hours of confrontation (7-6 [3]6-7 [3]7-6 [2]1-0, ab.) and under around thirty degrees, the former world number 6 made the decision to give up his match. Monfils was the last Frenchman competing in Australia. He also remains the last men's tricolor to have sought qualification for the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, in 2022, right here in Melbourne.
For his part, Ben Shelton will face the Italian Lorenzo Sonego, 55th in the world, in the quarter-final.
Related News :