Gael Monfils expressed extreme confidence on Saturday at the Australian Open, and the 38-year-old Frenchman again displayed that his game is darn good, too.
Monfils upset fourth-seeded Taylor Fritz of the United States 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-4 in the third round at Melbourne, Australia.
When Monfils made his Australian Open debut in 2005, Fritz, now 27 years old, was 7.
Monfils, who is ranked 41st in the world, extended a hot streak that saw him capture the tournament title at Auckland, New Zealand, last week, when he became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour event since 1977.
“I have a strong belief in myself, a strong belief I can still do some damage and with a little bit of luck we are in the second week of the Australian Open,” Monfils said.
Monfils logged a 24-12 edge in aces against Fritz, and the Frenchman won 82 percent of his first-serve points. Monfils also compiled more winners (58-44) and fewer unforced errors (36-34).
“The game plan was to hold the baseline and change the tempo, hit some big shots down the line and also use some shape. I did the job,” Monfils said. “We work hard and I try to be very disciplined with the recovery.”
Monfils moves on to face No. 21 seed Ben Shelton, who eliminated No. 16 Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on the strength of 11 aces and a 38-29 edge in winners.
While Fritz exited, another Southern California native advanced on Saturday. Alex Michelsen upset No. 19 Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
“I played unbelievable for most of the match. Don’t think I’ve ever hit my forehand that well,” Michelsen said. “I’m super happy and hope to keep this momentum going.”
Headed to the fourth round of a major for the first time in his career, Michelsen will next face Alex de Minaur. The eighth-seeded Australian got past No. 31 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-3.
Top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy needed just under two hours to complete a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Marcos Giron. The defending champion, who dropped only one set this week, won 82 percent of the points on his first serve and saved six of seven break points while compiling an overwhelming 35-11 edge in winners.
Sinner’s opponent in the last 16 will be No. 13 Holger Rune of Denmark, who outlasted unseeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 6-7 (5), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Rune struck 16 aces, broke his opponent’s serve seven times and racked up 83 winners, compared to 45 for Kecmanovic.
In other action Saturday, Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego defeated Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6), 6-1, 6-2, and 19-year-old American Learner Tien continued his run with a 7-6 (10) 6-3, 6-3 defeat of France’s Corentin Moutet.
Tien, who upset No. 5 Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the second round, next faces the unseeded Sonego. With the win over Moutet, Tien became the youngest man to reach the final 16 since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
–Field Level Media
