On Saturday, January 11, Gael Monfils became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour event. He left his mark on tennis history. In the Auckland Classic final, he defeated Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4. Roger Federer set the record when he won his final ATP championship at the Swiss Indoors in 2019 at the age of 38 years and 74 days. Monfils broke the mark at 38 years and 132 days.
Twenty years after winning his first title in 2005, Monfils’ victory in Auckland marked his 13th career victory. Bergs, who was competing in his first ATP final, was overwhelmed by the Frenchman’s signature combination of aggressive shot-making and unrelenting defending. Early in both sets, Monfils broke serve and was unfazed by the young Belgian’s retaliatory efforts. The triumph demonstrates Monfils’s unwavering love for tennis, which he talked about before the competition.
Two decades after winning his first ATP title, Monfils will play fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the Australian Open’s opening round. Monfils’ victory in Auckland gives him momentum going into the Grand Slam, demonstrating that age is no obstacle to success at the top level of tennis. A medical emergency in the crowd on Saturday had the Auckland final to be postponed.
Monfils’ Triumph Diminish Federer’s Status
But Monfils displayed the same combination of aggressiveness and tenacious defense to win his first trophy since the 2023 Stockholm Open. Gael Monfils talked about how his passion for tennis kept him going before the Auckland event began. He immediately went to the airport after picking up the Auckland trophy in order to catch a trip to Melbourne, where he will play Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the opening round of the Australian Open.
Monfils said, “I love tennis. I love what I’m doing, so all the sacrifices are easier. I still have the passion to play tennis, I still feel like I strike a very good ball Age is a number but I keep working.” He moves up 11 spots to 41st in the ATP rankings after his victory.
