French Open: Gael Monfils scripts history with heroic comeback in first round
Gael Monfils made history on Tuesday, May 27, becoming the oldest player in the Open Era to win a match at the French Open. At 38 years, 8 months, and 27 days, the veteran defeated Bolivia's Hugo Dellien 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-1 on Court Philippe-Chatrier in a gripping three-hour, 36-minute contest.It also marked the first time since 2015 that Monfils staged a comeback from two sets down. He now holds the Open Era record for the most five-set singles match victories (12) at Roland Garros. Additionally, Monfils equalled Yannick Noah's record for the most wins (40) by a French player at the tournament.advertisementAlso Read: Novak Djokovic off to solid start at Roland Garros, confident of better show in Paris
'I won 40 times here? It means I've played for a long time. That's probably the reason why,' Monfils said in the press conference. Monfils is the oldest man in the top 100 of the ATP rankings, with Novak Djokovic being the only other 38-year-old in the list.WHAT IT MEANS #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/YLMzAXx5fj— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2025'I love night sessions'During the match, Monfils had a brief injury scare. Early on, he suffered a nasty fall while attempting a forehand, losing his balance and crashing into the sidewall. His right knee slammed into the court signage, leaving him on the ground in visible discomfort.The chair umpire checked on him, but Monfils managed to recover and continue. After the match, he also spoke about his fondness for playing under the lights in night-session matches.advertisement'For me is the belief, the belief of myself. I know in Roland Garros is a little bit different, so I even push more,' Monfils said.'I love night sessions. I think it's fabulous. I was lucky enough to have that several times. It's just extraordinary. I try to do the best I can,' he added.In the second round, Monfils faces a tough challenge against Britain's Jack Draper, who recently broke into the ATP top 5 for the first time. Draper advanced with a confident first-round win over Italy's Mattia Bellucci, securing a 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 victory.
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