MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP
Gael Monfils celebrates his victory this Saturday January 11 after winning the title at the Auckland tournament.
TENNIS – Here he is who dethrones Roger Federer. The Swiss legend was until now the oldest winner of a tournament since the creation of the ATP in 1990. But at an age when Rafael Nadal retired (38 years and 4 months), the Frenchman Gaël Monfils won the one in Auckland (New Zealand) this Saturday January 11 by beating the Belgian Zizou Bergs.
On the main circuit, the record has been held since 1977 by Australian Ken Rosewall, winner in Hong Kong at over 43 years old. To give an idea of the longevity of the former French number 1, we can recall that this thirteenth title of his career comes 20 years after the first, in 2005. Since then, Gaël Monfils had played at least one final every year, except in 2024.
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« Age is just a number,” reacted the Monf after its 6-3, 6-4 victory a few hours before the start of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season. He will face Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 17 years his junior, in the first round. “What was funny was that he said to me “I’ve had a 21-year career, you’re 21”. That’s when we quickly understood the gap between the two of us”recently smiled the young Frenchman who explained that the two players had traveled on the same plane a few days ago towards Australia.
Guaranteed to be 41st player in the world this Monday, Gaël Monfils does not plan to put his rackets aside. “I don’t have a specific goal other than having fun, trying to win as many matches as I can”told AFP in December the one who said he did not “zero date” retirement in the head.
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