38-Year-Old Monfils Stuns Fritz, Advances to Australian Open Fourth Round

MELBOURNE, Australia — Gael Monfils, 38, became one of the oldest men to reach the Australian Open‘s fourth round since the tournament expanded to 128 players in 1988, defeating No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on Saturday. The Frenchman sealed his victory with a 134 mph ace, his 24th of the match, before celebrating with a dance at the baseline as fans roared in Margaret Court Arena.

Monfils, who started his season with a title in Auckland, New Zealand, is the oldest player to win a tournament since 1990. “Just fortunate. But every day is different. We work hard. I try to be very disciplined with the recovery. I am a strong believer [in] myself,” Monfils said after the match. “With a little luck, here we are in the second week of the Australian Open.”

The victory ended a 12-match losing streak for Monfils against top-five players at Grand Slam tournaments. Fritz, the 2023 US Open runner-up, became the highest-seeded man to exit this year’s Australian Open. The American received treatment for a right foot injury during the match.

Monfils’ wife, Elina Svitolina, also triumphed on Saturday night, defeating a fourth-seeded opponent in the women’s draw. “I warmed up the court for her,” Monfils joked before her match.

Monfils will next face 22-year-old Ben Shelton, the No. 21 seed from the United States, who defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Shelton, a 2023 US Open semifinalist, represents a stark contrast in age and experience.

Monfils’ performance was marked by 58 winners and only 34 unforced errors, along with a strong net game, winning 11 of 15 points at the net. Fritz, by comparison, struggled in forward play, converting only 16 of 30 net points.

Meanwhile, young Americans Learner Tien, 19, and Alex Michelsen, 20, also advanced to the fourth round, marking their debuts at this stage of a major. Michelsen will face No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, while Tien takes on Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

Monfils, a fan favorite known for his athleticism and flair, has now reached the fourth round in Melbourne for the sixth time. His best result at the Australian Open remains a quarterfinal appearance in 2016 and 2022. As he prepares to face Shelton, Monfils continues to defy age and expectations, proving his enduring competitiveness on the Grand Slam stage.