Gael Monfils Breaks Roger Federer Record With Auckland ASB Classic Victory

Gael Monfils created history moving past Roger Federer to become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after beating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in the ASB Classic in Auckland on SaturdayAuckland on Saturday.

The French veteran achieved the feat at the age of 38 years, 132 days breaking Federer’s record ( 38 years, 74 days) which he posted the Swiss Indoor title at Basel in 2019 .  

This was Monfils’ 13th tour title in 20 years. He is ranked 52 and is the oldest player in the history of the ATP Tour to be in the top 100. With this victory, he has risen to 41st in the ATP rankings, 11 places higher than before. 

 “Age is a number but I keep working,” he remarked, proud of his achievements.  “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.

“[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 said.

Gael Monfils raced to a 4-1 lead in 24 minutes, making a fast start. Bergs won only 33 per cent of his second-serve points in the first set.

The former No. 6 showed aggression right from the start to oust the Belgian qualifier in one hour and 37 minutes. He fired four aces, and won 88 per cent (29/33) of his first-serve points in the pair’s maiden ATP clash.

 Monfils now heads to the Australian Open where he will face fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Grand Slam. 

Before Auckland 2025, his last title was the 2023 BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm.

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Ahead the Auckland tournament, Monfils had expressed his deep love for tennis and what keeps him going even at this age. 

“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 been enjoying myself since the first day I played tennis and [at] 60 years old I will still have this joy. Practice, it’s easy. It’s in the DNA. Stay in shape, it’s easy. It’s more the travel.”