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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 23, 2025
38-year-old Gael Monfils is aging like a fine Chateau Margaux, vintage 1986.
The Frenchman seems to get better with time, and he continued to ride his momentum on Sunday in Miami, as he defeated Jaume Munar 7-5 5-7 7-6(1) to become the oldest man to ever reach the round of 16 in Miami.
Monfils, who kicked of his season in Auckland by becoming the oldest player to ever win an ATP title, improves to 14-4 on the season. He braved a heated battle with 27-year-old Munar in front of an enthusiastic crowd on Court Butch Bucholz.
Monfils has won three consecutive three-setters to reach the fourth round, and he has now clinched back-to-back third-set tiebreaks. So much for having too many miles on those elastic legs.
The former World No.6 continues to amaze, and fans continue to embrace his one-of-a-kind brand of artistry, athleticism, charisma and showmanship.
The unseeded Frenchman will face 24th-seeded Sebastian Korda in the fourth round on Tuesday. He defeated the American in straight sets two weeks ago, in the second round at Indian Wells.
Monfils will have to hang around a few more years if he wants to become the oldest man to reach the fourth round at a Masters 1000 event. That record belongs to Ivo Karlovic, who achieved the feat in 2019 at Indian Wells at the age of 40.