By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty
The Yarra River isn’t exactly a fountain of youth.
Yet 38-year-old Gael Monfils continues his timeless tennis flow.
Days after becoming the oldest man to win a Tour-level title since 1977 with his run to the Auckland crown, Monfils was busy turning back time in Melbourne.
Monfils dispatched Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(3) to make history as the fourth man aged 38 or older to reach the Australian Open third round since the tournament adopted the full 128-player singles draw back in 1988.
Monfils joins Dr. Ivo Karlovic (2018), Roger Federer (2020) and Feliciano Lopez (2021) in the elite group of esteemed veterans.
Managing crucial points with confidence, Monfils played high-percentage points pumping 37 winners against 26 unforced errors to reach the third round for the 12th time—20 years after he defeated American Robbie Ginepri in his 2005 tournament debut.
Afterward, Monfils shared the greatest gift the game has given him.
Everything.
“As I always say from day one, for me the most important is the health,” Monfils told the media in Melbourne. “It’s just a part of my life. It’s very nice, beautiful.
“Tennis give me everything, you know, I can even imagine, so I am already blessed. The rest is bonus.”
Though Monfils has said in the past he still dreams of making a maiden major final, these days he’s content with what he’s achieved in his long career.
“I can finish now. I think I have done what I want in a way,” Monfils said. “If I do more, it’s bonus. I’m happy.”
Going one more round in Melbourne will be a big ask.
Next up for Monfils is US Open finalist Taylor Fritz.
The fourth-seeded Fritz crushed Cristian Garin permitting just three games in an 82-minute win.
Monfils improved to 8-1 in 2025 and said he aims to keep riding this winning wave.
“[I] try to be consistent. You know, try to stay healthy as much as I can,” Monfils said. “End of last year I was playing pretty great tennis, felt good, felt a bit short because I got sick. Then I have a time-out and enjoy with my daughter. Then I could put up some work.
“I’ve been fortunate at the beginning of the season. Felt the body good. Felt I was hitting good. I’m just surfing on the moment.”
