MELBOURNE, Australia — 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 round of 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 middle.
Monfils will play the winner of American Ben Shelton and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
Earlier Saturday, 42nd-ranked Alex Michelsen, a 20-year-old Californian, overwhelmed No. 19 Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to reach the fourth round at a major for the first time.
It was the second time Michelsen knocked off a top-20 seed this week after beating No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2023 Australian Open runner-up, in the first round.
Reuters contributed to this report.
