Australian Open – Still heroic, Gaël Monfils forced to retire

January 20, 2025January 20, 2025

Total respect. New fantastic match from Gaël Monfils, 38, at the Australian Open in the round of 16. The Frenchman is not decided to hang up his phone, on the contrary, he is giving the younger generation a hard time. But it is his opponent who will play the quarter-finals.

Facing Ben Shelton, a 22-year-old American, Gaël Monfils put on a great show. Trailing 6-7 in the first set, he then came back (7-6) then lost the 3rd set (6-7 again). Match hooked. But we felt that physically, the Frenchman was starting to lose his footing.

And from the start of the 4th set, Gaël Monfils had no choice but to give up. Ben Shelton advances to the quarter-finals with class. Since he insisted that the crowd vigorously greet the Frenchman’s exit from the field.

Before facing Lorenzo Sonego, Ben Shelton sent another laudatory comment to the Frenchman after the match: “ Gael Monfils is the best player of all time if we compile his best moments« .