Gaël Monfils beats world number 4 Taylor Fritz and advances to the round of 16

Gaël Monfils, 41^e world, signed Saturday January 18 against the American Taylor Fritz (4^e) his first Grand Slam victory, during the Australian Open, against a member of the top 5 since 2008. The 38-year-old Frenchman signed an eighth success in a row, with a score of 3-6, 7- 5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4. Powerful aces, suave cushioning: “La Monf” showed once again that he had lost none of his touch with the ball, ending up disgusting Fritz after a fight lasting more than three hours.

“I think I did the job”smiled Monfils just after his feat. “With a little success, here I am in the second week of the Australian Open”he told an audience largely supportive of his cause.

Just days after his victory at the ATP 250 tournament in Auckland – in which he became the oldest player (38 years old) to win a tournament on the main tennis tour since Ken Rosewall's victory at 43 in 1977 at Hong Kong –, the veteran ended on Saturday a series of twelve consecutive Grand Slam defeats against top 5 players, his last success dating back to 2008, against the Spaniard David Ferrer during of a quarter-final at Roland-Garros.

Lob et ovation

He joins his compatriot Ugo Humbert (14th) in the round of 16 of the Australian Open.^e), qualified on Friday after the abandonment of Arthur Fils (21^e), injured his foot. Corentin Moutet (69^e) can still join them if he defeats another American on Saturday, the young Learner Tien (121^e at 19).

Since the 128-player draws were introduced in Melbourne in 1988, only Roger Federer, winner of twenty major tournaments, had managed to reach the round of 16 at an older age than Monfils.

As in his only previous duel with Fritz, won by the Californian in 2019 already in Melbourne, the game started badly for Monfils. After missing a break point two games everywhere, the Frenchman was caught on a double fault (5-3), before Fritz confirmed his serve to win the first set 6-3.

Not discouraged by Fritz's forehand missiles, Monfils got back to work in the second set. At 6-5 in his favor, he took the American's service with a shutout to restore the tie at one set all (7-5).

Just as tight, the third set logically ended in the tie-break. From the first point, won by Monfils after showing his opponent every corner of the court until disgusting him with a final lob, the Frenchman dictated the tone.

After coming away at 6/0, “La Monf” won the decisive game 7/1, immediately receiving a standing ovation from the audience at the Margaret Court Arena. The Frenchman, imperious in serving, delivered the blow by breaking Fritz at 4-4 in the fourth set before ending the match on his serve with a final ace (6-4).