NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 23: Gaël Monfils of France (L) reacts with Elina Svitolina of Ukraine … [+] (R) during the Stars of the Open Exhibition Match to Benefit Ukraine Relief prior to the 2023 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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It was a day of joyous success for the husband and wife duo of Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina on Saturday at the Australian Open.
Both 30-somethings ousted the No. 4 seeds in their respective draws — on the same court — to advance to the fourth round in Melbourne.
Monfils, 38, began the day of upsets for his family by stunning No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz, the top-ranked American man, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1), 6-4. After serving his 24th ace of the match, a 134-mph banger up the T on match point, the beloved Frenchman began to dance on the baseline as fans roared in approval.
He is the oldest player to defeat a top-5 opponent in Melbourne since records began.
“Taylor start[ed] strong serving well, it was just one break,” Monfils, who is coming off winning the title in Auckland, said on court. “I played a very poor game, but I felt like I could move very well today and the game plan was to hold my baseline and definitely change the tempo, hit some big shots down the line and use some shape with my forehand, some slice with the backhand and serve well and I’ve done the job. I’ve done the job so…
“With a little bit luck, here we are in the second week of Australian Open.”
After his historic win, Monfils returned to Margaret Court Arena and sat in the stands to watch his wife, Svitolina, eliminate the women’s No. 4 seed, two-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 at night.
“I warmed up the court for her,” Monfils said with a smile.
Her take?
“I got inspired after my husband’s win,” Svitolina said. “I watched a little bit.”
Monfils banged out 24 aces to Fritz’s 12.
“It was really tough to hurt him. He just got back everything,” Fritz said. “I felt like I wasn’t even hitting. … It seemed almost too easy for him to hurt me, for how much I was struggling to hurt him. He played really, really well. Not too much I could do.”
Monfils’ title in Auckland before Melbourne made him the oldest man to win a tournament since at least 1990.
Before the final of that match, he vowed to make his and Svitolina’s daughter, Skai, proud.
“I will try to win another for her,” he said.
Monfils has never been past the quarterfinals at the Australian Open but did reach two major semifinals, most recently at the 2016 U.S. Open.
Roger Federer was a slightly older 38 when he got to the semifinals at Melbourne Park in 2020, which turned out to be his last appearance at the tournament.
Monfils next will take on a much-younger opponent, 22-year-old Ben Shelton, the 21st-seeded American who eliminated No. 16 Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
Playing his usual brand of charismatic, entertaining tennis in front of a loud crowd Saturday, Monfils compiled an impressive ratio of 58 winners to 34 unforced errors and dropped just one service game. And while Monfils won 11 of the 15 points he finished at the net, Fritz only went 16-for-30 when he pushed forward.
Monfils broke for 5-4 in the fourth set when Fritz approached and netted a volley.
The 27-year-old Fritz, the runner-up to Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open in September, became the highest-seeded man to exit the bracket at Melbourne Park this year. Fritz’s right foot was treated by a trainer during the match.
The result ended a 12-match losing streak for Monfils against top-five players at Grand Slam tournaments.
“One of the better matches he’s played in years,” ESPN’s John McEnroe said on air. “…He executed a game plan to perfection, unbelievable effort by Monfils. I didn’t see this coming. I didn’t know how much he had left in the tank but he’s proven to a lot of people he’s still a force out there.”
Svitolina, 30, made it a double upset for the household, sealing her first Top 5 win since defeating Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon 2023.
“I want to say I got inspired after my husband’s win,” Svitolina told Andrea Petkovic in her on-court interview. “But I played so bad the first set, I’m not sure I was inspired!”
Svitolina attributed her comeback to her fighting spirit, and drew parallels with her country, which is still at war following the Russian invasion of 2022.
“I wouldn’t be so proud if I were to finish the match that way, so I was trying to put a lot of fight there and stay as long as I can,” she said. “In so many different levels, [Ukrainians] show the resilience. We are fighting for what is ours. We want really badly to have it — fighting spirit is in our blood.”
(The AP and WTA contributed reporting)
