Match Report
Monfils, Bergs set Auckland final
Monfils, 38, second-oldest player to reach ATP Tour final since 1990
January 10, 2025
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Gael Monfils defeats Nishesh Basavareddy in Auckland on Friday.
By Sam Jacot
Gael Monfils made history at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Friday, when he became the second oldest player to reach an ATP Tour final since 1990.
The 38-year-old overcame his 19-year-old opponent Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach the title match at the ATP 250 hard-court event after one hour and 48 minutes.
“I am very happy. This kid has a bright future, he is playing really well,” said Monfils, who also beat Basavareddy in Brisbane last week in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. “I played quite well today. Moved great, defended well. He pushed me to the limit. I knew it would be tough and it was tough. I trust my fitness and am pleased to have won in straight sets.”
Monfils saved all five break points he faced according to Infosys ATP Stats and raised his level in the closing stages, winning eight of the final 10 points to advance to his 35th tour-level final and first since he won Stockholm in 2023.
Oldest ATP Tour Finalists (since 1990)
#NextGenATP star Basavareddy came through qualifying to reach his maiden ATP Tour semi-final in New Zealand. The American, who competed at last month’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, is up 27 spots to No. 106 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
Monfils will aim to capture his 13th tour-level title on Saturday when he takes on Belgian Zizou Bergs.
Qualifier Bergs earned a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win against seventh seed Nuno Borges. Portugal’s Borges served for the match at 5-4 in the decider and was two points from victory, but Bergs dug deep to break back before he reeled off the final two games.
“It was a difficult match with a lot of momentum shifts,” Bergs said. “I had a chance to go a double break up in the second set and he is a great fighter and I lost a bit of my intensity. I then managed to get it back a bit and he was making it really hard with his backhand in the third set. I was a break down at the end of the third set and before I knew it I had a won. I made the right choices at the end. Whenever I am down, I manage to find something.”
Bergs was competing in his first tour-level semi-final and is the first Belgian to reach an ATP Tour final since David Goffin won Marrakech in 2022. The 25-year-old is up to No. 60 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is guaranteed to rise to a career high on Sunday.
Borges defeated #NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik in a tight three setter on Thursday but could not find the energy levels for another late push against Bergs.
The 27-year-old will head to Melbourne, where he faces Hong Kong titlist Alexandre Muller in the first round of the Australian Open. Last year, Borges enjoyed a run to the last 16 at the hard-court major.
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