MELBOURNE — France’s Gael Monfils turned back the clock to dump fourth-seeded American Taylor Fritz out of the Australian Open on Saturday and book a place in the last 16.
At 38, Monfils is enjoying a late-career flourish, and Fritz felt the full brunt of it as the Frenchman rallied from a set down to claim a thrilling 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-4 win in the afternoon sunshine at Margaret Court Arena.
Soaking up punishment from Fritz with a stonewall defense, Monfils dismantled the American with tennis IQ and danced a jig after sealing the win with an ace down the “T.”
Monfils will play the winner of American Ben Shelton and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
Reuters contributed to this report.
