In Indian Wells, California, Gael Monfils delivered a masterclass that could only be compared to the age-old elegance of French wine—rich, dynamic, and improving with time. On a memorable Saturday night, Monfils went toe-to-toe with Sebastian Korda, and through an impressive display of skill, secured his spot in the history books of the Masters 1000 series.
At 38, Monfils clinched a hard-fought victory, 7-6(2), 7-6(4) over the 24th-seeded Korda, thereby becoming the third-oldest player ever to advance to the third round at a Masters 1000 tournament. His exemplary performance under pressure set up an exciting third-round meeting with Grigor Dimitrov, who is the 14th seed.
Monfils, who has previously reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells twice, is part of an elite group of just five active players with 20 or more wins in this prestigious event. His recent victory elevates his record in the California desert to 22 wins against 14 losses and improves his impressive season tally to 11 wins and 3 losses. Earlier in Auckland, Monfils made headlines by becoming the oldest ATP titleholder after defeating Zizou Bergs in the final.
In the realm of senior achievers, only Jimmy Connors, who reached the third round at Miami in 1992 at the age of 39, and Ivo Karlovic, who did so at Indian Wells in 2019 at 40, have matched or surpassed Monfils’ age in reaching this stage of a Masters 1000.
Watching Monfils in action reinforces the magic that he brings to the court, an aspect celebrated by fans and enthusiasts alike. As he prepares for a thrilling match against Dimitrov, it’s clear that Monfils is not just competing against fellow players but also redefining what’s possible in the sport as he ages gracefully, much like the finest vintage.
