Gaël Monfils qualified for the round of 16 of the Australian Open by overthrowing world No. 4 Taylor Fritz in four sets and in just over three hours of play. This is the first time in 17 years that he beats a member of the Top 5 in a Grand Slam.
But who will stop him? At 38 years old, Gaël Monfils qualified for the round of 16 of the Australian Open on Saturday by winning in the 3rd round against the American Taylor Fritz, world No. 4, after losing the first set. (3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4).
With this exceptional victory, the Frenchman, world No. 41, signs his first Grand Slam victory against a member of the top 5 since 2008 and a victory in the quarter-final of Roland-Garros against David Ferrer, after a series of 12 consecutive defeats. .
“A little success”
“I think I did the job, with a little success, here I am in the second week of the Australian Open,” he told the audience who were largely supportive of his cause. With his overpowering aces and his smooth drop shots, the “Monf” showed once again that he had lost none of his touch with the ball, ending up disgusting Fritz after a fight of more than three hours.
Having become the oldest tournament winner in New Zealand on the main circuit since 1977, the Parisian offers himself an eighth success in a row and at the same time becomes the second oldest player to qualify for the 8th stage. final of the Australian tournament. Since the 128-player draws were introduced in Melbourne in 1988, only Roger Federer, winner of 20 major tournaments, had managed to reach the round of 16 at an older age than Monfils.
-A complicated start to the match
As in his only previous duel with Fritz, won by the Californian in 2019 already in Melbourne, the game started badly for Monfils. After missing a break point two games everywhere, the Frenchman was caught on a double fault (5-3), before Fritz confirmed his serve to win the first set 6- 3. Not discouraged by Fritz’s forehand missiles, Monfils got back to work in the second set. At 6-5 in his favor, he took the American’s service with a shutout to restore the tie at one set all (7-5).
Just as tight, the 3rd set logically ended in a tie-break. From the first point, won by Monfils after showing his opponent every corner of the court until disgusting him with a final lob, the Frenchman dictated the tone. After breaking away at 6/0, the Frenchman won the decisive game 7/1, immediately receiving a standing ovation from the audience at the Margaret Court Arena. The Frenchman, imperious in serving, delivered the blow by breaking Fritz at 4-4 in the fourth set before ending the match on his serve with a final ace (6-4).
Shelton ou Musetti
He joins in the round of 16 his compatriot Ugo Humbert (14th), qualified on Friday after the abandonment of Arthur Fils (21st), injured in the foot, and is now awaiting the clash between Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti who also face each other Saturday to find out who he will be facing to try to reach the quarter-finals of the 2025 Australian Open.
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