By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 22, 2023
A 37-year-old Gael Monfils beat qualifier Pavel Kotov 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 to become the oldest man to win the Stockholm Open in tournament history.
Photo credit: Alexander Scheuber/BNP Paribas Nordic Open Facebook
Erupting in high hops behind the baseline, Gael Monfils was a man in motion even when the ball wasn’t in play.
In his 34th career final, Monfils clearly isn't lacking competitive drive.
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Two points from defeat in the tiebreaker today, Monfils stepped on the accelerator and sped to his 12th career title in Stockholm.
The 37-year-old Frenchman fended off qualifier Pavel Kotov 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 in a pulsating comeback at the Stockholm Open that was a win for the ages.
The 109th-ranked Monfils made a dual mark as both the oldest—and lowest-ranked—man to win Stockholm.
Returning to the winner's circle, Monfils walked to his court-side box and embraced wife Elina Svitolina in the front row.
This committed comeback championship run comes 12 years after Monfils dispatched Bernard Tomic, Kevin Anderson, Milos Raonic and Jarkko Nieminen to capture the 2011 Stockholm championship. The 12-year gap between Stockholm titles is the longest championship gap in tournament history.
It is Monfils’ first ATP title since the 2022 Adelaide and shows the Frenchman has plenty of gas left in the tank. Monfils joins Roger Federer, Ivo Karlovic and Feliciano Lopez as the fourth man age 37 or older to capture an ATP championship since 1990.
Spare a thought for the 109th-ranked Kotov, who played through qualifying to reach his maiden ATP final. Level at 6-6 in the tiebreaker, Kotov was two points from being the first qualifier in two years to win an ATP title, but Monfils coaxed errors, snatched the second set, immediately broke to start the decider and never looked back improving his ATP finals record to 12-22.
Kotov broke in the third game and backed up the break for a 3-1 lead en route to take the opening set.
Deadlocked at 3-all in the second-set tie breaker, Kotov missed a forehand. Monfils zapped a diagonal forehand winner to extend the lead to 5-3.
Kotov came back with a series of heavy forehands retrieving the mini-break for 4-5. A grunting Kotov went for a big inside-out forehand, but missed the mark wide as Monfils earned double set.
Netting a forehand return on the first set point, Monfils double faulted long on the second set point as Kotov leveled, 6-all.
On Monfils’ third set point, Kotov missed a forehand down the line as the Frenchman erupted with a loud “Allez!” snatching the second set to force a decider after one hour, 52 minutes.
Unable to close two points from the title, Kotov faced a final-set hangover. Decelerating on a second serve, he double-faulted off the tape to hand Monfils the opening break.
Streaking toward the net for a short ball, Monfils drew the errant pass confirming the break at 15 to surge ahead 2-0.
Working the qualifier corner to corner, Monfils effectively extended his lead. Rapping a return on the full stretch, Monfils put Kotov on the defensive and broke again for 5-2 when the world No. 109 netted a backhand.
An ace out wide brought Monfils championship point, but Kotov crunched a crosscourt forehand winner to save it.
Exploiting a Monfils double fault for break point, Kotov carved out a forehand drop shot winner breaking back for 3-5.
Undeterred, the 2011 Stockholm champion earned two more championship points in the next game. When Kotov’s flying backhand sailed, Monfils had the 12th championship of his career.
The victory vaults Monfils to No. 89 in the ATP Live Rankings, ensuring him direct entry into the 2024 Australian Open starting on January 14th.