Miami Open: Monfils Makes History as Second-Oldest ATP Masters 1000 Match Winner
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Synopsis
At the Miami Open, Gael Monfils made history by becoming the second-oldest player to win a match at the ATP Masters 1000 event, achieving this milestone at 38 years old. He defeated Fabian Marozsan, advancing to the next round.
Key Takeaways
- Gael Monfils is the second-oldest player to win at ATP Masters 1000.
- Jimmy Connors remains the oldest, winning at age 39.
- Monfils won against Fabian Marozsan in a tightly contested match.
- He recorded an impressive 38 winners during the match.
- Next, he will face Jiri Lehecka.
Miami, March 20 (NationPress) Gael Monfils etched his name in history at the Miami Open by becoming the second-oldest player to win a match at the ATP Masters 1000 event, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Connors.
The ATP No. 1 Club member, Connors, holds the record as the oldest man to secure a match victory in Miami, achieving this feat at age 39 back in 1992.
The 38-year-old French star triumphed over last year’s quarterfinalist Fabian Marozsan with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, advancing to the second round in Florida after a match lasting one hour and 44 minutes, according to ATP reports.
Monfils recorded an impressive 38 winners against 18 unforced errors to secure his win, setting up a clash with Jiri Lehecka.
“I hit some varied angles and demonstrated my ability to run and anticipate. I made it challenging for him. I hit with greater depth in my shots and did not allow him to dictate the play; I believe I performed well,” said Monfils.
Earlier, Aleksandr Bublik achieved his first-ever tour-level victory on outdoor courts in 2025, overcoming Sebastian Baez 6-3, 6-4, marking his first win in Miami since 2022.
Bublik, who reached the quarter-finals in Florida in 2021, will next face Tommy Paul.
David Goffin eliminated Aleksandar Vukic with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, setting up a second-round encounter with second seed Carlos Alcaraz. The 34-year-old Belgian is a former semi-finalist (2016) at the ATP Masters 1000.
Rinky Hijikata triumphed over Hamad Medjedovic 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 and will next challenge Novak Djokovic. Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate dominated Ethan Quinn 6-0, 6-2 and will compete against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round.
Federico Cina celebrated his inaugural tour-level match victory at the Miami Open, defeating Argentine Francisco Comesana 7-6(4), 7-6(2).
The 17-year-old showcased resilience in the second set, navigating through a tie-break after initially holding a 5-2 lead in the set and a match point on return at 5-3. The wild card raised his arms in triumph after securing the victory and is set to face Grigor Dimitrov, according to ATP.
