Monfils and his second youth: "I don't think about my age, it's just a number"

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Gael Monfils defeated one of the most promising players in the world, Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard, in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open. The match went to five sets in a marathon battle, but experience prevailed as Monfils won without facing a single break point (7-6 6-3 6-7 6-7 6-4). After saving two match points in the third set, Mpetschi Perricard almost came back to win, but Gael performed remarkably in the crucial moments.

The career of Gael Monfils seems far from over. At 38 years old, he approaches the 2025 Australian Open as a youthful contender following his recent ATP Auckland victory. While facing a big server like Mpetschi Perricard is not just a physical battle, the tension against such aggressive servers also takes a toll on the body. 'La Monf' highlighted in a press conference that age is not a concern at this stage of his career.

- Age is "just a number"

"I don't usually think about my age; it's just a number, and I try to avoid dwelling on it. I can only say that tomorrow, when I wake up, I'll be over 48 years old (laughs). I feel very good physically, but I've had ups and downs. I have a lot of experience in these kinds of matches and in my condition, but I felt good. Plus, I stayed focused", Gael shared.

- No break points faced in the match

Gael displayed perfect service solidity: "When you play against players like Giovanni, Isner, or Opelka, the main focus is on serving and not facing any break points because you're under pressure all the time. You have to play very smart throughout. Today, I managed to do that, so I'm pleased with it."

Mpetschi Perricard is considered to be one of the best servers in history, and Gael mentioned that "he belongs in the category of Isner, Opelka, Raonic, and Karlovic. His first serve stands out, but his second serve is incredibly good, maybe even better than theirs. Perhaps his first serve isn't as strong as the others', but his second is clearly the best. I think he's the first player to serve as powerfully on the second serves."

- His current career stage

When asked if he still dreams of a Grand Slam victory, as he mentioned a couple of years ago, Gael responded, "In life, you have to dream, and I have many dreams," expressing his ambition. He also shared his feelings on winning at 38 years old: "The most satisfying part is winning. I work hard, and if I win one, two, or three matches after, it brings satisfaction. I want to keep going in this direction, giving my best without thinking about my age. For instance, I've been in this career for 21 years, and Giovanni is 21 years old, but I want to fight without fixating on numbers. I don't feel pressure; my wife is competing in the tournament (Svitolina), and my daughter is waiting for me, so I'm pressure-free and happy. I'm ready for the next match".

Gael Monfils will face Daniel Altmaier in the second round of the 2025 Australian Open, with the date, court, and time yet to be confirmed.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Monfils y su segunda juventud: "No pienso en mi edad, es solo un número"