If age is supposed to meet up with everybody, Gaël Monfils is flipping the script.
For now, a minimum of.
The 38-year-old Frenchman has produced a few of the greatest tennis of his profession in the course of the previous week, highlighted by a four-set win over world quantity 4 Taylor Fritz.
Not solely was Fritz a youthful opponent at 27, however he is additionally coming off a 2024 season highlighted by reaching the US Open remaining.
In Saturday’s third-round match on Margaret Courtroom Enviornment, the American comfortably gained the primary set, however Monfils took management from that time within the match.
He accomplished a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1/7), 6-4 victory in simply over three hours to e book a date with Fritz’s countryman Ben Shelton within the fourth spherical.
Monfils was ranked as excessive as quantity six on the earth in 2016 and there is not any query he is possessed the expertise to win a serious.
Semifinal appearances on the French and US Opens are his greatest exhibiting on the slams, though his legion of followers is daring to dream he may raise the trophy at Melbourne Park subsequent Sunday evening.
Profitable the Australian Open, nonetheless, is not the top purpose for Monfils.
On the identical day his spouse Elina Svitolina superior to the fourth spherical of the ladies’s draw, Monfils revealed household life is his sole focus.
“To be sincere with you, [it’s] not even a dream to win the event,” Monfils mentioned following his defeat of Fritz.
“My dream is to be previous and with loads of children and wholesome.
“My dream is to have an unbelievable household. Tennis is cool. In fact, you need to have [a] purpose, dream, no matter. However my dream is on the market.”
Taylor Fritz (left) fell to Monfils in 4 units within the final 32. (AP: Manish Swarup)
Now ranked 41 on the earth, Monfils admits his greatest days as a tennis skilled are lengthy gone.
However having arrived on the tour as a increase teenager, he acknowledges he’s now wiser than he was earlier in his profession.
“I really feel that I used to be higher in my prime, for positive,” Monfils mentioned.
“However with my type now, I’ve extra expertise, so I can regulate myself.”
Fritz wasn’t ready to foretell Monfils may win the Australian Open however he expects his extra senior rival will make life tough for Shelton within the final 16.
He famous Monfils hit Melbourne in very good contact following his triumph in final week’s Auckland ATP 250 occasion.
“Clearly he is come straight from profitable a title, taking part in a complete event,” Fritz mentioned.
“He had a five-setter within the first spherical. At this time’s match was bodily. It was sizzling.
“If he can proceed to play like how he performed at this time for 5 units, I feel he’ll be robust for anyone to beat.”
Monfils could not anticipate to win in Melbourne, however he is pleased to say one title as his profession extends into a minimum of yet one more 12 months.
“I feel I am the very best athlete at 38 years previous on the tour, sure,” a tongue-in-cheek Monfils mentioned.
“That’s for positive.”
