January 11, 2025
Gael Monfils made history at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Saturday when he became the oldest man to win a tour-level title since a 43-year-old Ken Rosewall captured the 1977 Hong Kong trophy.
The 38-year-old defeated Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in the ATP 250 hard-court final to claim his 13th tour-level title and first since the 2023 BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm.
“It means a lot [to win]. Age is a number,” Monfils said in his on-court interview. “But we keep working. I keep believing that I can play high-quality tennis and I have been showing it this week so I am very happy.
“[My first title] was 20 years ago. I still have the passion to play tennis. I feel I [can] still strike the ball very well. Hopefully, many more to come,” he said.
The former No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings remained aggressive from the baseline in the second set and banked on his experience to oust the Belgian qualifier in one hour and 37 minutes. He fired four aces, and won 88 per cent (29/33) of his first-serve points in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.
Monfils will now head to the Australian Open where he opens his campaign against the big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in an exciting all-French first-round clash.
A run to his maiden tour-level final propelled Bergs to a career-high No. 60 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The 25-year-old upset seventh seed Nuno Borges in the semi-finals. He will play Facundo Diaz Acosta in the first round at the Australian Open.
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