A few dance steps, and a cry of rage. French veteran Gaël Monfils qualified for the round of 16 of the Australian Open by eliminating in style on Saturday January 18, the American, 4th in the world, Taylor Fritz in four sets, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, in front of the Margaret Court audience completely committed to his cause.
How to explain this return to the forefront for the Habs ? Arriving in Melbourne two days after his ATP title in Auckland (New Zealand), he started the tournament “without any particular expectations”, but with the desire to “do your best” on every match. Gaël Monfils has the state of mind of an accomplished man, with light thoughts and confides that he is “happy in his life”. This serenity and relaxation have accompanied him since his arrival in Melbourne.
This well-being was also felt even in his few spontaneous dance steps on the ace of victory, on the Margaret court. “I continue to play for these kinds of matches, against big players, in big stadiums, in front of great crowds with good energy. When you are 38 years, that's what you want. I have it and I am very happy with it. That's exactly why I play.” he confided on Saturday at a press conference. “La Monf” is said “always so passionate”, playing “with pleasure” to continue “to have fun”. And why not, let the dream of lifting the trophy escape ? “Earn the tournament ? To be honest, it's not even a dream.” retorts with a smile the man with 13 titres ATP.
“My dream is to be old, have many children and be healthy.”
Gaël Monfils, 41st at ATPat a press conference
A 38 years and 139 days, Gaël Monfils has become, according to the game, set and math statistics account, “the second oldest player in history to take on a member of the top 4 in a Grand Slam tournament (after Ken Rosewall in 1974)”. He even offers “the biggest Grand Slam victory of his career in terms of ranking. His eighth Grand Slam victory against a top member 10, the first in over ten ans”, announces again Game, set and math. Before that day, he had never beaten a top four seed in a Grand Slam tournament.
“As long as he feels good physically and has the desire, he is always competitive, and very often, he plays at a top level. 20, or even more where he is sometimes capable of fighting a little higher [comme contre Fritz]”, analyzes Arnaud Clément, ex-top 10 and consultant for franceinfo: sport. “We see that he is very calm on the pitch, and that he takes a lot of pleasure and that he also gives it to the public. He wants to prolong these moments as long as possible,” continues Arnaud Clément, who recalls the previous good sequence of Gaël Monfils in Montreal and Cincinnati in 2023. “He came back after several injuries and was able to beat tops 10 and also to string together big tournaments, which was surprising at the time”, he emphasizes.
-Behind this state of wisdom, Gaël Monfils can also count on a strengthened physique. With his new victory on Saturday, he continues his good momentum from the start of the year with an eighth consecutive victory. The result of good physical preparation. “I feel good”, he repeats constantly since his arrival and the numerous questions about his age, approaching forty. “I work hard. The team follows me well. My physical trainer does a good job. We prepared well all last year so that I could move around well. And already at the end of the year, I was moving around better on the ground”, he explained upon his arrival in Melbourne when journalists asked him his secrets of youth.
Match after match, Gaël Monfils surprises with his unfailing physical condition, whether in five sets against the next generation of French tennis Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (30th in the world) or against the number 4 Taylor Fritz. “Il [mon préparateur physique] was able to understand my physical shortcomings to try to erase them and adapt”, he detailed upon his arrival last week. Before adding, jokingly : “You have the impression that it's easy, that I'm 28 years old, but I’m definitely 38!”
The challenge now is for the Monf to aim for the quarter-finals, its best result in Melbourne achieved in 2016 and 2022. “If he continues to play like this, he did today for five sets, I think he will be difficult for anyone to beat. He returned all my serves, even when I was serving very well. The way he serves on top of that, and the quality of his second serve, it's really difficult to play.” admitted Taylor Fritz to the press.
For his part, Gaël Monfils wants to take things step by step. First of all, “recover well” et “try to keep these feelings and work on them well”. But the motto remains the same : “enjoy and think about the next match a little later”. To get his place in the quarters, he will have to surpass the enthusiasm of the American player, 20th in the world, Ben Shelton.
