After swallowing a five-set loss in the Australian Open 2022 quarterfinals, Gael Monfils said he retained faith in his ability to win a Grand Slam.
“I need one time,” he said. “I won't win 20, but one time, just one time I need.”
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Fast-forward to AO 2025, and the Frenchman inched closer to fulfilling that need on Saturday by upsetting fourth seed Taylor Fritz 3-6 7-5 7-6(1) 6-4, advancing to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time since that inspired run in Melbourne three years ago.
With the feat – his first win over a top-five opponent at a major since 2008 – Monfils joined Roger Federer as the only other men’s singles player aged 38 or older to reach the last 16 at the year’s first Grand Slam since 1988.
The well-liked Frenchman’s age isn’t at all reflected by his movement. At his 65th major and 19th AO, Monfils is playing a level of tennis that could be confused for his prime.
He had a 95 per cent win rate on first serve points during the second set (82 per cent for the match), and a match total of 24 aces, double the number struck by 27-year-old Fritz, who owns one of the top 10 fastest serves this tournament.
Monfils burst into dance after firing his final ace to clinch match point, executing a celebration that had been on his mind.
“I want to be myself … that was my way to express my joy,” he said.
“I keep playing for those matches: play big player, big stadium, good crowd, good energy.”
Though Monfils acknowledges he was a better athlete in his prime, his gained experience and tennis IQ has proved invaluable. Against Fritz, the French underdog, ranked 41 in the world, dictated points by mixing up the pace of his ball, often constructing points that featured slice backhands and crisp, booming forehands, to disrupt the American’s rhythm.
“I have a strong belief of myself, strong belief that I can still do some damage,” he said.
Monfils played down the idea of winning a maiden major as a current dream.
“My dream is to have an unbelievable family,” said the father-of-one, who joked he’d warmed up Margaret Court Arena for his wife Elina Svitolina, who proceeded to match his heroics by upsetting women’s fourth seed Jasmine Paolini later on Saturday night.
Still, enthusiastic supporters of the Frenchman, whose chants of “Allez les bleus” made for what Monfils described as an “unbelievable” atmosphere on Saturday, can dream. The proud tennis nation has been waiting since 1983 for a new Grand Slam men’s singles champion, and fans will no doubt be willing on the 38-year-old from on the ground in Melbourne, and afar.
In conditions so warm they called for an ice towel at the change of ends, it was Fritz who edged ahead first, clinching the opening set courtesy of a double fault from Monfils. But the agile veteran served impeccably and stayed patient, so much so that he didn’t face a break point in either the second or third set, and dominated the tiebreak in the latter.
Buoyed by the confidence of a 13th career title in Auckland last week, Monfils found an extra gear to break Fritz for a 5-4 lead in the fourth, before serving out the match to secure his eighth win in 11 days.
“It [was] just a really good match from him,” said world No. 4 Fritz, crediting Monfils’ stellar showing.
“He served incredible, mixed up his spots really well, I never could get a read on where he was going to serve on a big point.
“When he didn't make his first serve, he was serving huge second serve sliders … even if I knew where it was going, it was really hard to return, the way he was cutting it.
“It was really tough to hurt him, he just got back everything.”
On Monday, Monfils will face 21st seed Ben Shelton for a place in the last eight in the pair’s first meeting.
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Fritz, who owns a 1-0 record over compatriot Shelton, reckons the Frenchman is more than capable of toppling another seed.
“If he can continue to play like how he played today for five sets, I think he's going to be tough for anybody to beat,” he said.