Monfils becomes the oldest player to win an ATP Tour singles title

After defeating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in Auckland, French veteran Gael Monfils has become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title.

Monfils claimed his 13th tour title 20 years after his first and at the age of 38 years, 132 days. He took over from Roger Federer, who was 38 years, 74 days old when he won the final tour title of his career, the Swiss Indoor title at Basel in 2019.

Monfils is currently ranked at 52, making him the oldest player to do so in ATP Tour history.

Pancho Gonzalez was 44 years, 7 months and 4 days old when he won a Kingston, Jamaica singles title in 1972, before the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990.

Due to a medical emergency in the crowd, Monfils won the Auckland final on Saturday, his first championship since the Stockholm Open in 2023. However, he displayed the same combination of aggression and tenacious defense.

Monfils described how his passion for tennis kept him going before the Auckland tournament started.

“I love tennis. I love what I’m doing so, of course, all the sacrifices you do, they are a little bit easier. When you love something, it’s easier to keep pushing”, he said.

I’ve had this joy since I first started playing tennis, and now that I’m 60 years old, I’ve had it. Practice, it’s easy. It’s in the DNA. Stay in shape, it’s easy. It’s more the travel”.

After collecting the Auckland trophy, Monfils immediately made his way to Melbourne, where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the opening round of the Australian Open.