AUCKLAND, New Zealand – French veteran Gael Monfils became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after a defeat Zizou Bergs On Saturday in Auckland we drew 6:3, 6:4.
Monfils won his 13th tour title 20 years after his first, at the age of 38 years and 132 days. Took over from Roger Federerwho was 38 years and 74 days old when he won the last title of his tour career, the 2019 Swiss Indoor title in Basel.
Monfils is ranked 52nd and is the oldest player in ATP Tour history to finish in the top 100.
Pancho Gonzalez was 44 years, 7 months and 4 days old when he won the Kingston, Jamaica singles title in 1972, before the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990.
The final in Auckland was delayed on Saturday due to a crowd medical emergency, but Monfils showed the same mix of aggression and tenacious defense to win his first title since the 2023 Stockholm Open.
Before the start of the tournament in Auckland, Monfils talked about how his love for tennis motivated him.
“I love tennis. I love what I do, so of course all the sacrifices you make make it a little easier. When you love something, it’s easier to keep pushing,” he said.
“I’ve had fun since the first day I played tennis [at] At 60, I will still have that joy. Exercise, it’s simple. It’s written in the DNA. Stay fit, it’s simple. It’s more of a journey.”
After collecting the trophy from Auckland, Monfils went straight to the airport for a flight to Melbourne, where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Australian Open.
