Following his thrilling five-set victory over young countryman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Australian Open on Tuesday, Gael Monfils declared that age was just a number.
After winning the Auckland Classic on Saturday, the flamboyant Monfils became the oldest singles champion in the history of the ATP Tour.
With his arms raised in celebration just after a 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-7 (5/7), and 6-4 victory over three hours and forty-six minutes in the first round, he continued to build momentum against Mpetshi Perricard.
After winning the first two sets, Monfils had two match points against a player who used one of the most deadly serves in the game, and he should have won the third set.
Mpetshi Perricard, however, who is currently ranked 30th in the world after rising from 205 at the beginning of 2024, retaliated.
In the end, Monfils’ experience paid off as he maintained his composure to advance to the second round in Melbourne for the seventeenth time, where he will face Daniel Altmaier of Germany.
After a difficult match, fans were pleased to see Monfils and Mpetshi Perricard joking, which attracted attention. One fan wrote: “Nice to see.”
Another weighed in: “This is beautiful to see!”
One fan commented: “Nice to see they are friendly after.”
Another wrote: “Great Monfils.”
Debriefing after their five-set thriller 💬
Gael Monfils 🤝 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/3WuokREv7n
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2025
Monfils at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2025
LLLLLWLLLW Currently the world no.41, Monfils has achieved a composed 7-1 record in 2025. Monfils is participating at the Australian Open where he conquered the world no.30 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(7) 6-3 6-7(6) 6-7(5) 6-4.
Gael has won 1 title in 2025 in Auckland.
The French player won 13 titles in his career: 4 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 8 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in 2025
Currently the world no.30 (career-high), Giovanni played his last match on the 14th of January when he was overcome by world no.41 Gael Monfils 7-6(7) 6-3 6-7(6) 6-7(5) 6-4 in the 1st round of the Australian Open (draw).
This season the French player has achieved a 3-2 match record. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s best result of this season was getting to the semifinal in Brisbane.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will compete against Roberto Ortega-Olmedo in the 2nd round. They have never played each other till now in top competitions.
Gael Monfils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard played each other only 1 time. Their record is 1-0 for Monfils. When they played, Gael Monfils won 7-6(7) 6-3 6-7(6) 6-7(5) 6-4 in the 1st round in Melbourne (Australian Open) on the 14th of January 2025.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
