Shanghai Masters – Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China – October 9, 2024 France’s Gael Monfils in action during his round of 16 match against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
French Tennis player Gael Monfils became the oldest player in tennis by overtaking Switzerland’s Roger Federer to win an ATP Tour title with Auckland victory.
Monfils achieved the feat at 38 years and four months while Federer won his last tournament at 38 years and two months when he won a title at Basel in 2019.
“Age is a number, but we keep working,” Monfils said on court. “I’m still striking a good ball. Hopefully, many more to come,” he said after beating Zizou Bergs 6-3 6-4 in the Auckland Classic final on Saturday.
“I love tennis. I love what I’m doing so of course all the sacrifices you do, they are a little bit easier. When you love something, it’s easier to keep pushing,” he said.
“I’ve been enjoying myself since the first day I played tennis and [at] 60 years old I will still have this joy. Practice, it’s easy. It’s in the DNA. Stay in shape, it’s easy. It’s more the travel.”
After collecting the Auckland trophy, Monfils headed straight to the airport for a flight to Melbourne, where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Australian Open.
It was a 13th ATP title for Monfils, nearly 20 years after claiming his first in Sopot, Poland in 2005.
Monfils is the oldest tour-level winner since Australian Ken Rosewall claimed the Hong Kong Open title in 1977 aged 43. The world number 52 will play fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Australian Open.
An unwanted record
Earlier Novak Djokovic advanced to the Brisbane International quarterfinals by defeating Monfils 6-3, 6-3, extending the most dominant head-to-head record in tennis history.
After 20 years of playing against each other on the professional circuit, Djokovic’s victory is his 20th career triumph over Monfils, who is still looking for his first victory over the Serbian. The second most-lopsided record in tennis is Rafael Nadal’s 18-0 head-to-head with Richard Gasquet. “I like [Monfils’] style of play,” Djokovic grinned.
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