Gael Monfils to contest Australian Open fourth round at 38 years old after defeating Taylor Fritz

If age is meant to catch up with everyone, Gaël Monfils is flipping the script.

For now, at least.

The 38-year-old Frenchman has produced some of the best tennis of his career during the past week, highlighted by a four-set win over world number four Taylor Fritz.

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Not only was Fritz a younger opponent at 27, but he's also coming off a 2024 season highlighted by reaching the US Open final.

In Saturday's third-round match on Margaret Court Arena, the American comfortably won the first set, but Monfils took control from that point in the match.

He completed a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1/7), 6-4 victory in just over three hours to book a date with Fritz's countryman Ben Shelton in the fourth round.

Monfils was ranked as high as number six in the world in 2016 and there's no question he's possessed the talent to win a major.

Semifinal appearances at the French and US Opens are his best showing at the slams, although his legion of fans is daring to dream he could lift the trophy at Melbourne Park next Sunday night.

Winning the Australian Open, however, isn't the end goal for Monfils.

On the same day his wife Elina Svitolina advanced to the fourth round of the women's draw, Monfils revealed family life is his sole focus.

"To be honest with you, [it's] not even a dream to win the tournament," Monfils said following his defeat of Fritz.

"My dream is to be old and with a lot of kids and healthy.

"My dream is to have an unbelievable family. Tennis is cool. Of course, you want to have [a] goal, dream, whatever. But my dream is out there."

Taylor Fritz (left) fell to Monfils in four sets in the last 32. (AP: Manish Swarup)

Now ranked 41 in the world, Monfils admits his best days as a tennis professional are long gone.

But having arrived on the tour as a boom teenager, he acknowledges he is now wiser than he was earlier in his career.

"I feel that I was better in my prime, for sure," Monfils said.

"But with my form now, I have more experience, so I can adjust myself."

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Fritz wasn't prepared to predict Monfils could win the Australian Open but he expects his more senior rival will make life difficult for Shelton in the last 16.

He noted Monfils hit Melbourne in superb touch following his triumph in last week's Auckland ATP 250 event.

"Obviously he's come straight from winning a title, playing a whole tournament," Fritz said.

"He had a five-setter in the first round. Today's match was physical. It was hot.

"If he can continue to play like how he played today for five sets, I think he's going to be tough for anybody to beat."

Monfils may not expect to win in Melbourne, but he's happy to claim one title as his career extends into at least one more year.

"I think I'm the best athlete at 38 years old on the tour, yes," a tongue-in-cheek Monfils said.

"That is for sure."

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