Gael Monfils. (AP Photo)
MELBOURNE: Gael Monfils fired a 215 kmph serve down-the-middle on match point and it brooked no response from an opponent with enviable wingspan. The 38-year-old Frenchman immediately broke into a dance, shaking to the rhythm of victory as the sun cast a glow on Melbourne Park. Monfils — the second-oldest man (after Roger Federer) to reach the Australian Open fourth round since the tournament moved to Melbourne Park in 1988 — notched his eighth consecutive match win of the season. The 30-year-old rallied to score a 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 win and will face Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the fourth round on Monday.
“I felt good, I felt that I want to do that (dance) in that moment, be myself,” the Frenchman said. “It was my way to express my joy.
The 38-year-old, who sent down 24 aces in the match, pulled off a massive hold in the fourth game of the fourth set to make his intentions clear.
I tell you my dream,” he told the reporter, adding, “My dream is to have an unbelievable family. Monfils then broke in the ninth game when Fritz picked up a low volley off his shoe strings and dumped it into the net. “That’s your dream, I guess, to win a Slam. Tennis is cool. Of course, you want to have a goal, a dream, whatever. But my dream is out there.”
It’s exactly why I’m playing,” he said matter-of-factly. My dream is to be old and with a lot of kids and healthy,” Monfils said. “I keep playing for these matches – big player, big stadium, good crowd and good energy. “No! This is not even a dream, to win the tournament.