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…
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