In the lead-up to the season’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, world No. 52 Gael Monfils completes an impressive run at the ASB Classic event with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Belgian player Zizou Bergs in the final staged on Saturday in Auckland.
After capturing his 13th career title at age 38 in New Zealand, the brand-new champion commented: “It means a lot [to win]. Age is a number. 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.”
Twenty years after the Parisian clinched his maiden trophy on Tour, he went the distance to become the oldest man to win a tour-level title since 1977.
“[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 added.
Monfils took control of the match in the second game of the first set when he earned a chance to break and did not miss it, extending his lead by holding 3-0.
Then, the 25-year-old rallied through a lengthy game, fending off two break points to hold his ground at 1-3.
From there, the set went with serves until the experienced French player closed it up 6-3 in 48 minutes.
Bergs, competing in his first tour-level championship match, made a clean start to the second set.
However, Monfils stayed the course, generating some ferocious ball-striking from the baseline, stepping up the pressure on his adversary.
He produced a clinical break in the third game and held to open a 3-1 lead.
The world No. 66 struggled through the match, committing unforced errors (42 overall) he could not afford, but found breathing room for a late challenge, forcing his rival to fight off three break points in the sixth game.
Moreover, he built upon momentum, raising his overall game, and hit his first aces in the match to move forward, narrowing the gap to 3-4.
Putting to good use his two-decade experience on Tour, the former Stockholm champion held his nerve, moving the Lommel native sideways while covering the net wisely, neutralizing a volley to extend his lead at 5-3.
The former world number six marched to serve for the match in the tenth game, but his opponent was still alive in the match.
The 22-time ATP finalist found himself 0-30 down after striking a forehand long but recovered to level up 30-30.
Eventually, he navigated out of danger, saving three break points to seal the set 6-4 and the match after one hour and 37 minutes.
Monfils won 88 percent of the points on his first serve and 56 percent on his second delivery, saving all six break points he faced.
Both players will head to Melbourne, kickstarting their Australian Open campaigns.
Monfils’s 19th appearance at Melbourne Park will start with a box office first meeting against compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
For his part, the Belgian will face Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta in the first round.