Beating Taylor Fritz this Saturday in Melbourne, the Frenchman won, at 38, one of the greatest victories of his career.
Stainless Gaël Monfils. This Saturday during the 3rd round of the Australian Open, the French veteran, 38, signed one of the biggest victories of his career by dismissing the American Taylor Fritz, 4th player in the world. A victory full of authority in four sets (3-6, 7-5, 7-6 [1]6-4) which proves that the former world number 6 still has something under his belt. “With a little success, here I am in the second week of the Australian Open», he said after his success to an audience largely won over to his cause. At a press conference, the Habs recalled that they continued to “play for these matches, to face big players on big courts».
«I'm happy to have had a big match. But I think I don't have enough perspective yet. Honestly I think it's a very good victory because I think I played well, I managed to be tactically stable. I find it difficult to place it, but I'm happy with the way I played, I'm happy with the match. (…), continued “la Monf’” (comments reported by AFP et RMC Sport ).
And to add: “I thought I served well today, it's not every day you manage to apply a tactic and continue, while he played well. At times, I was courageous, I was happy to go for lines, in the tie-break I did myself violence, I am happy to have had a great match. It’s complicated to really say (what it represents), but I’m super happy to have won against a big player, to have been stable over four sets.”
Win the Australian Open? Monfils “doesn’t even dream of it”
Author of his greatest feat in a Grand Slam – his last success in a Major against a Top 5 player dates back to 2008 against the Spaniard David Ferrer during a quarter-final at Roland-Garros – Monfils became the second tennis player the oldest to reach the round of 16 of the Australian tournament behind a certain Roger Federer. A historic and symbolic performance which was well worth a little dance in the wake of the match point for the man who had just won, just a week ago, the tournament in Auckland (New Zealand), his 13th career title. .
Asked at a press conference about his chances of winning the Australian Open, the Frenchman was clear: “Earn ? No, I don't even dream of it. My dream is to grow old with many children and in good health“, said Monfils, father of a little girl whose mother is the Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, to whom he gave his support by joining the stands of the Margaret Court Arena after his match to watch the Svitolina-Paolini match. “I don't look at statistics. Numbers are just numbers. Whether you play the 4th, the 10th or the 100th, it's a battle on the court anyway“, he added.
On his route from Monday will be the American Ben Shelton (14th) who “plays (incredibly)“. Not esteeming oneselfnot favorite”, Monfils said above all he wanted “enjoy it and think about the (next) match later“. Perhaps he will rewatch for pleasure, in the coming hours, the best moments of his exploit, from his long rallies won to his perfect tie-break (7-1) to complete the third set, which the broadcaster Eurosport took great pleasure in compiling.
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