By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, January 18, 2025
At age 38, Gael Monfils is turning back time in Oz upsetting world No. 4 Taylor Fritz to become the second-oldest man to reach the AO fourth round.
Photo credit: Graham Denholm/Getty
Throwing down an ace on match point, Gael Monfils bopped behind the baseline in elation.
The 38-year-old Monfils continues to turn this Happy Slam into his own rousing revival show.
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An inspired Monfils toppled US Open finalist Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1), 6-4, to soar into the Australian Open fourth round for the sixth time.
It’s a historic win for Monfils, who defeated a Top 4 seed in a major for the first time in his glorious career.
At 38 years 147 days, Monfils is the second-oldest man to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open since 1988 joining Roger Federer (aged 38 years 178 days in 2020) in making a mark for the ages.
By the end of this high quality three-hour, eight-minute triumph, many fans in Margaret Court Arena were bouncing up and down right along with Monfils, who is back in the major groove.
“It was an unbelievable match,” Monfils said. “Taylor is strong and serving well.
“I felt I could move today. The game plan was to hold my baseline and definitely change the tempo, hit some big shot down the line and use some shape with my forehand, some slice with the backhand and serve well. I think I’ve done the job. I’ve done the job.”
It was an exceptional effort from Monfils, who doubled the big-serving American’s ace total—24 to 12—hit his forehand with more ferocity and was superior in the frontcourt winning 11 of 15 trips to net.
Auckland champion Monfils improved to 9-1 on the season against an opponent who was coming off his maiden major final in Flushing Meadows last September.
This was a more self-controlled Monfils than the flashy Sliderman Melbourne fans have seen in the past. Knowing Fritz is net averse, Monfils worked the points, applied angles and sometimes slashed his heavy forehand down the line.
“I try to be very disciplined with the recovery,” Monfils said. “I have a strong belief in myself that I can still do some damage. I have big trust in my time and here we are with a little bit of luck in the second week of the Australian Open.”
On a sticky day, both men were soaked in sweat midway through the opening set. Monfils double faulted into net to donate the break and a 5-3 lead to Fritz.
The 38-year-old Frenchman netted a slice backhand as Fritz snatched a one-set lead. Fritz won 19 of 23 points played on his first serve in the first set.
Neither man could muster a break point for much of the second set. Sitting with an ice towel wrapping his neck on the changeover, Monfils looked like a man plotting a strategic shift—then he tried applying it.
Fritz was serving at 5-6 when Monfils zapped a forehand strike down the line. The US Open finalist put a forehand into the middle of the net handing Monfils triple set point.
Playing from behind much of the match, Monfils suddenly broke at love snatching the second set and prompting a huge eruption from fans packed into Margaret Court Arena.
After Monfils stamped a love hold for a 3-2 third-set lead, Fritz took a medical timeout for treatment of an apparent blister on his right foot.
Returning to court, Fritz fought off a pair of break points, including pumping an ace to save the second break point.
Hijacking the tiebreaker with high quality play, Monfils hit some magical running forehand strikes down the line charging out to a big breaker lead.
Showing guile and tremendous touch, Monfils looped a lob winner to open the breaker than left Fritz leaning on the court-side clock.
Monfils mashed his 18th ace for a 5-0 lead. AO fans were chanting “Gael! Gael!” as the pair switched sides with Monfils holding a 6-0 lead.
On his second set point, the veteran showed his patience pushing the fourth seed side-to-side before spinning another clean forehand winner down the line to seal a commanding tiebreaker and two-sets-to-one lead.
After dropping the third set, Fritz departed court for a bathroom break while Monfils lounged back in his seat.
The 41st-ranked Frenchman dipped a low pass that handcuffed Fritz to break for 5-4.
With Aussie fans roaring approval, Monfils rocketed his 24th ace to end it—and start the dancing celebration.
This upset comes a couple of days after 19-year-old American qualifier Learner Tien sent fifth-seeded former finalist Daniil Medvedev packing in a fifth-set tiebreaker.
Monfils, who went three hours, 46 minutes in his five-set win over fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his opener will try to keep this magic ride going. Next up for Monfils is either 21st-seeded American Ben Shelton or 16th-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
But first, Monfils had some unfinished business: watching wife Elena Svitolina follow him on MCA for her match against Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini. “I think I warmed up the court for her,” Monfils said after his electrifying effort.