Gael Monfils edges nearer to Jimmy Connors' Miami Open document

One other event, one other age milestone for Gael Monfils! The French veteran handed the primary impediment on the Miami Open, toppling Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in an hour and 45 minutes. Thus, Gael grew to become the second-oldest participant to notch a Masters 1000 win in Miami after Jimmy Connors.

Monfils celebrated his triumph at 38 years and 6 months, passing Ivo Karlovic and standing behind solely the eight-time Main winner. Gael will face the younger Czech Jiri Lehecka within the second spherical.

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 19, 2025

Gael took the opener towards Fabian and solid a 4-1 benefit within the decider. The Hungarian pulled the break again earlier than struggling a late break to propel the Frenchman over the end line. Monfils claimed ten factors greater than his rival.

The 38-year-old outplayed his rival behind the primary serve and prevailed within the pivotal moments. Gael defended 5 of seven break factors and stole the rival’s serve 4 occasions from seven alternatives to cross the end line first.

Gael Monfils & Fabian Marozsan, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

Monfils landed 38 winners and 18 unforced errors, taming his strokes properly and leaving his rival on a 34-36 ratio. The Frenchman had the higher hand in service winners and from the baseline, whereas the Hungarian responded with a effective efficiency on the web.

Gael held at love in video games one and three of the opener and clinched an early break for a 3-0 benefit. The veteran confronted 4 break factors within the fifth sport and denied them with two service winners and two errors from his opponent.

Gael Monfils,, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

The 38-year-old held at love with a strong serve in sport seven and served for the opener at 5-3. He fired an unreturned serve for 6-3 in 29 minutes. Fabian wasted sport factors within the third sport of the second set and saved a break level with a backhand crosscourt winner.

The Hungarian offered a maintain at love in sport 5 and stepped in on the return within the subsequent one. Fabian attacked and seized the second break level with a volley winner on the web for a 4-2 benefit. Marozsan served for the opener at 5-3.

He fired an unreturned serve, wrapping up the set 6-3 and introducing a decider after an hour and 7 minutes. Monfils made a recent begin within the remaining set and grabbed a break within the second sport. He delivered three effective holds for a 4-1 benefit.

Nevertheless, he hit a double fault within the seventh sport, dropping serve and returning his opponent to the optimistic aspect. Gael painted a backhand winner in sport eight and earned a break likelihood. Fabian denied it with a artful volley and locked the end result at 4-4.

The veteran closed the ninth sport at love with a service winner and stepped in on the return within the subsequent one. Marozsan missed a routine forehand and confronted two match factors. He positioned one other forehand lengthy on the primary, propelling the 38-year-old into the second spherical.