The way forward for males’s tennis has been on present on the Australian Open however Gael Monfils struck a significant blow for the outdated guard with victory over fourth seed Taylor Fritz.
Frenchman Monfils is simply the second participant aged 38 or over, after Roger Federer, to make the final 16 in Melbourne since 1988.
He’s having fun with fairly the begin to 2025 after changing into the oldest ever winner of an ATP Tour singles title in Auckland final weekend.
Monfils adopted that up by defeating US Open finalist Fritz 3-6 7-5 7-6 (1) 6-4, celebrating by dancing on Margaret Court docket Enviornment to the delight of the Australian crowd.
It’s only the second time Monfils has overwhelmed a top-five opponent at a grand slam, with the primary coming manner again in 2008.
“It was an unbelievable match,” mentioned Monfils. “I felt like I might transfer nice at this time and the sport plan was to carry my baseline. I’ve performed the job.
“I’ve been lucky however each day is totally different. We work arduous. I attempt to be very disciplined with the restoration, I’ve a powerful perception in myself and a powerful perception that I can nonetheless do some injury. Right here we’re within the second week of the Australian Open.”
Monfils joins 37-year-old Novak Djokovic within the final 16, whereas, on the different finish of the age spectrum, 20-year-old Alex Michelsen reached the fourth spherical at a slam for the primary time.
The American, who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas within the first spherical, was a powerful 6-3 7-6 (5) 6-2 winner in opposition to nineteenth seed Karen Khachanov.
Michelsen revealed his favorite participant to observe rising up was Monfils, who turned skilled the 12 months the American was born.
“The man’s pure athlete,” mentioned Michelsen. “All the texture and circus pictures. He was unbelievable. I nonetheless love watching him. I at all times love watching him. For positive my favorite man.”
Defending champion Jannik Sinner cruised into the fourth spherical of the competitors with a straight-sets victory over Marcos Giron.
The highest seed reached the final 16 after incomes a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win in simply over two hours, which included eight aces through the match.
“I’m very blissful to be within the subsequent spherical. Each match has its personal difficulties,” Sinner mentioned in his on-court interview after the match.
“Immediately I felt like he was very stable from the again of the courtroom when he served effectively. I nonetheless have room to enhance, however each win is nice, particularly in these situations.”
Learner Tien turned the youngest man since Rafael Nadal to succeed in the fourth spherical of the Australian Open.
The 19-year-old qualifier pulled off an upset within the earlier spherical to beat three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in a late-night conflict.
He carried momentum from that match within the third spherical, incomes a 7-6 (10) 6-3 6-3 win over Corentin Moutet and can meet Lorenzo Sonego within the subsequent spherical.
Alex de Minaur reached the fourth spherical in Melbourne or the fourth-consecutive 12 months with a 5-7 7-6 (3) 6-3 6-3 victory in opposition to Francisco Cerundolo.
The Australian battled from a set all the way down to earn a hard-fought victory over the thirty first seed in three hours and 52 minutes.
PA
