Shows 100% Blues in the first round of the Australian Open! The duel between the veteran Gaël Monfils and the French revelation of the year 2024 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard scheduled for Tuesday excites the French contingent in Melbourne, starting with the two protagonists.
“It’s going to be cool, it’s always fun.” I’ve played millions, Grand Slam matches against friends, that’s one more,” Monfils rejoiced at a press conference on Sunday, before the first confrontation between the two players.
In 2025, the Parisian continues to defy time. On Saturday, he won the 13th title of his career in Auckland (New Zealand), becoming at 38 years and four months the oldest winner on the main circuit since 1977.
Asked in Melbourne about the secret to his longevity, Monfils provided a disarmingly simple answer. “I work, that’s just it,” he said, praising the “great job” of his physical trainer.
If Monfils arrives in good shape, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is not left out. The 30th in the world with a powerful serve won his first two titles in 2024 (including an ATP 500 in Basel) and played in a semi-final at the start of the year in Brisbane.
The two players also spent the long flight to Australia side by side. “For 14 hours, we talked,” said “Gio” before his first round against “La Monf”. “He told me I’ve had a 21-year career, you’re 21. This is where we quickly understood the gap between the two of us. »
“It’s a bit of a shame to play him in the first round. He is someone that I really appreciate and I would have liked us to go as far as possible,” added the Lyonnais, who did not manage to get out of qualifying for his first major in Melbourne last year. last.
The match between Gaël Monfils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is scheduled for this Tuesday in the second rotation on court number 3 at Melbourne Park. It will be followed from 2:30 a.m. (French time) on Eurosport channels.
