The Frenchman won 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 and 6-4 and advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 2022.
@Gael_Monfils electrifies MCA and #AO2025eliminating no.4 seed Taylor Fritz.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/atTcDY8tBQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2025
After Fritz “routinely” handled the Frenchman in the first set in 37 minutes, Monfils kicked into high gear. By the end of the match, the fourth racket in the world managed to reach only two break points, both of which were in the last set, but he was unable to use them. The key to Monfils’ victory was his excellent service – he hit 24 aces against Fritz’s 12.
After three hours and eight minutes, Monfils used the first match point on his serve and literally danced to victory, attractively celebrating his first victory over a “top 10” player at the Grand Slam since 2014 when he beat Grigor Dimitrov.
At 38, the “Old Fox” became the second oldest player to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open back in 1988. The only player who has managed the same feat is Roger Federer, reports Hina.
Monfils will face the winner of the match between Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti in which he will be chasing his best finish at the Australian Open, which is the quarterfinals.
(Vijesti.ba)
