On January 11, 2024, 38-year-old Gael Monfils achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title. He won the Auckland Classic final by beating Belgian player Zizou Bergs with scores of 6-3, 6-4. Monfils, at 38 years and 132 days old, broke Roger Federer’s previous record of winning his last ATP title at 38 years and 74 days old in 2019.
This victory is Monfils’s 13th career title and came exactly 20 years after he won his first ATP title in 2005. He showcased his exciting style of play, mixing powerful shots with strong defense, which gave him an edge over Bergs, who was playing in his first ATP final.
Early in both sets, Monfils broke Bergs’s serve and stayed in control throughout the match. Monfils’s love for tennis shines through. Ahead of the tournament, he said, “I love tennis. I love what I’m doing, so all the sacrifices are easier.” Despite his age, he believes he can still play at a high level, stating, “I still have the passion to play tennis, and I still feel like I strike a very good ball.”
After his win, Monfils celebrated with excitement, flexing for the cheering crowd. He proudly remarked, “Age is a number, but I keep working.” His victory moved him up to 41st in the ATP rankings — that’s 11 places higher than he was before! Now, he is set to compete in the Australian Open, facing his fellow French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round. Monfils proves that age doesn’t stop you from achieving great things in tennis!
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