All posts tagged: gael monfils

VB Realty Hawks, AOS Eagles open with narrow wins

VB Realty Hawks, AOS Eagles open with narrow wins

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The World Tennis League made a show-stopping India debut on Wednesday as some of the big names in the sport brought high-quality entertainment to the court. Bengaluru had a courtside view to Gael Monfils’ athleticism and Nick Kyrgios’ ‘tweener trickery, to Denis Shapovalov’s explosive talent and Elina Svitolina’s tenacity. Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was a finalist at the 2017 Chennai Open, marked his return to India with a win in men’s doubles, along with Indian stalwart Rohan Bopanna. Rubbing shoulders with them was India’s Next Gen, Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi and Dhakshineswar Suresh, who seemed to thrive in the spotlight. After VB Realty Hawks opened the 2025 edition with a narrow 25-21 victory over Aussie Mavericks Kites, AOS Eagles rounded off the day’s action with a 18-16 win over Game Changers Falcons. At the end of Day 1, the Hawks lead the standings with 25 points. Playing the opening set of the day, Svitolina showcased her signature resolve as she fought back from 2-5 down to beat Marta Kostyuk 7-5 and give the …

India set to host the event for the first time in Bengaluru- Preview

India set to host the event for the first time in Bengaluru- Preview

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India will be hosting the World Tennis League for the first time, showcasing several international tennis stars in Bengaluru from December 17 to 20 at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium. World Tennis League is an annual exhibition mixed team tournament where the top global stars are distributed equally in four teams, having 2 male and 2 female players. This will be the fourth edition of the tournament, having 16 players across the globe, including multiple Grand Slam Champions like Daniil Medvedev, Rohan Bopanna and Nick Kyrgios. Each team will also have 2 Indian players (One Male, One Female), allowing them to gain valuable experience playing alongside global stars in a competitive field. This will be the third consecutive appearance at this tournament for India’s No. 1 Sumit Nagal, meanwhile Rohan Bopanna returning to this competition after 3 years. Teams & Squad of 2025 World Tennis League AOS Eagles: Gael Monfils, Sumit Nagal, Paula Badosa, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty Game Changers Falcons: Daniil Medvedev, Rohan Bopanna, Sahaja Yamalapalli VB Reality Hawks: Denis Shapovalov, Elina Svitolina, Yuki Bhambri, Maaya …

World Tennis League announces owners and star players for its first India edition in Bengaluru

World Tennis League announces owners and star players for its first India edition in Bengaluru

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The excitement for the World Tennis League (WTL), licensed and managed by Iconik Sports and Events Ltd., is increasing countrywide, as ‘The Greatest Show on Court!’ comes to Bengaluru, from December 17-20. Ahead of the four-day tennis action at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium, the league has now unveiled the team owners and composition, bringing together global and Indian tennis stars guided by the energetic new leadership. This season’s franchise owners include the defending champions Game Changers Falcons (owned by Amandeep Singh, Game Changers FZCO), VB Realty Hawks (owned by Vashu Bhagnani), Aussie Mavericks Kites (owned by Dr. Umed Shekhawat, Amit Sahni and Kewal Kalra), and AOS Eagles (owned by AOS Sports Tournament, Dubai, and helmed by Satender Pal Chhabra). 16 players, 4 teams, 1 champion – World Tennis League’s 2025 edition is all about high-octane courtside action delivered by some of the finest global tennis stars and India’s top-seeded players, helmed by experienced coaches. This edition’s lineup includes: Game Changers Falcons’ Amandeep Singh said “We are back to defend the title with yet another …

Miami Open: Gael Monfils Becomes Second-Oldest Man To Win A Match At ATP Masters 1000

Miami Open: Gael Monfils Becomes Second-Oldest Man To Win A Match At ATP Masters 1000

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Gael Monfils in action© AFP Gael Monfils made history at the Miami Open as he became the second-oldest man to win a match at the ATP Masters 1000 event after Jimmy Connors. ATP No. 1 Club member Connors is the oldest man to win a match in Miami, having done so at 39 in 1992. The 38-year-old Frenchman overcame last year’s quarterfinalist Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to reach the second round in Florida after one hour and 44 minutes, ATP reports. Monfils struck 38 winners and committed 18 unforced errors to clinch victory and set up a meeting with Jiri Lehecka. “I hit some different angles and showed I could run and anticipate. I made it hard [for him]. I hit with a bit more depth in my shots and did not let him dictate and I think I did well,” Monfils said. Earlier, Alexander Bublik clinched his maiden tour-level win on outdoor courts in 2025. The 27-year-old overcame Sebastian Baez 6-3, 6-4 to record his first victory in Miami since 2022. …

Australian Open: The lost generation – from kings in waiting to princes out of favour | Tennis News

Australian Open: The lost generation – from kings in waiting to princes out of favour | Tennis News

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Gael Monfils, after years of injury-induced uncertainty had threatened to push his career to its finish line, slapped on the brakes at the Australian Open on Saturday. The in-form 38-year-old, who overtook Roger Federer as the oldest-ever ATP title winner in Auckland last week, defeated the rising fourth seed Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-4 at the Margaret Court Arena in an entirely predictable upset. Credit where it is due, Monfils is putting together a phenomenal run which seemed unfathomable a few months ago. He is now one to watch in an open quarter of the draw. However, as an appraisal is made of Fritz’s early exit – on the heels of his run to reaching finals at the US Open and ATP Finals last year – there must be a review of his status as a serious contender too. For, consistency at lower-rated events may afford a higher ranking, but the solid-serving American’s baseline game has lacked the serious improvement required for him to take the big step at the biggest tennis tournaments …

Jannik Sinner Surges Into Aus Open Last 16 On ‘Great Day’ For Happy Couple

Jannik Sinner Surges Into Aus Open Last 16 On ‘Great Day’ For Happy Couple

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Defending champion Jannik Sinner raced to victory at the Australian Open on Saturday to sweep into the last 16 as Iga Swiatek demolished Emma Raducanu. Also into the second week is 38-year-old Gael Monfils after he stunned fourth seed Taylor Fritz — with the veteran’s wife Elina Svitolina also enjoying a shock win immediately after on the same court. “It’s really a great day for us today, beating top-four players and playing great tennis,” said Ukraine’s Svitolina. American qualifier Learner Tien, 19, won in straight sets to extend his fairytale run on his debut in Melbourne. But Danielle Collins, the pantomime villain after thanking hecklers for “paying my bills” in the previous round, lost and was booed. Italian world number one Sinner dropped a set for the first time in 14 matches in the second round. But there were no such wobble against the unseeded Marcos Giron on Rod Laver Arena as he sprinted home 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in 2hr 1min, slamming 35 winners and eight aces. Awaiting him next is either Serbian …

How 38-year-old Gael Monfils outlasted 21-year-old compatriot Mpetshi Perricard in a thriller | Tennis News

How 38-year-old Gael Monfils outlasted 21-year-old compatriot Mpetshi Perricard in a thriller | Tennis News

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One of the marquee first-round matchups on the men’s side of the Australian Open was a contest between a resurgent veteran that had, for long, been one of the only flag-bearers of French tennis and his 17-year-younger compatriot, whose big-hitting, big-serving game has had onlookers raving about his potential with some even marking him as one of the underdogs to watch ahead of the tournament. It did not disappoint. Over a nearly four-hour-long, five-set grind, Gael Monfils, 38 and hitting form once again, defeated Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard, the 6-ft 8-in tall 21-year-old whose 230 kmph thunderbolt first serves have universally caught the tennis cognoscenti’s eyes, in front of a thoroughly entertained, maximum capacity crowd on one of the more intimate outside courts at Melbourne Park on Tuesday. It was a match of breathless serving and high-intensity rallies that eventually came down to which player could cope with the tensions of tiebreakers with more composure. Monfils, who did not even face a break point all game, unexpectedly came out of the blocks with more aggression and, …

Gael Monfils becomes oldest player to win ATP tour title taking over Roger Federer | Tennis News

Gael Monfils becomes oldest player to win ATP tour title taking over Roger Federer | Tennis News

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French Tennis player Gael Monfils became the oldest player in tennis by overtaking Switzerland’s Roger Federer to win an ATP Tour title with Auckland victory. Monfils achieved the feat at 38 years and four months while Federer won his last tournament at 38 years and two months when he won a title at Basel in 2019. “Age is a number, but we keep working,” Monfils said on court. “I’m still striking a good ball. Hopefully, many more to come,” he said after beating Zizou Bergs 6-3 6-4 in the Auckland Classic final on Saturday. “I love tennis. I love what I’m doing so of course all the sacrifices you do, they are a little bit easier. When you love something, it’s easier to keep pushing,” he said. “I’ve been enjoying myself since the first day I played tennis and [at] 60 years old I will still have this joy. Practice, it’s easy. It’s in the DNA. Stay in shape, it’s easy. It’s more the travel.” After collecting the Auckland trophy, Monfils headed straight to the …

Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka Into Brisbane International Quarter-Final As Rising Stars Impress

Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka Into Brisbane International Quarter-Final As Rising Stars Impress

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Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were in ominous form ahead of the Australian Open as both powered into the Brisbane International quarter-finals on Thursday. On a day when rising stars Mirra Andreeva and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard underlined their potential, Djokovic cruised past fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes. In the women’s draw, world number one Sabalenka — who is aiming to win the Australian Open for the third time in a row — beat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Djokovic and Monfils played an entertaining match, but the 37-year-old Serb was always in control as he notched his 20th straight win over the Frenchman. Former world number one Djokovic plays giant American Reilly Opelka in the last eight. “We’ve been playing a long time, I’ve known Gael since I was 15 and he was 16,” said Djokovic, who is pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title when the Australian Open begins on January 12. “I’ve had a good score against him over the years but we’ve had some …

Sumit Nagal receives wildcard entry into Dubai Championship main draw

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Sumit Nagal received a wildcard entry into the main draw of the Dubai Championships, an ATP 500 event. The qualifiers of the tournament underwent on Saturday. Nagal will face world no. 49 Lorenzo Sonego of Italy in the first round when the matches of the main draw start on Monday. The 26-year-old from Faridabad, Haryana, has been in exceptional form this year. He made it to the second round of the Australian Open beating seeded Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. By reaching the second round, Nagal became the first Indian since 1989 to beat a seeded player in a Grand Slam. Nagal also became the first player since Somdev Devvarman to advance to the second round of the Australian Open in men’s singles. After the Australian Open, Nagal won the ATP Challenger trophy in Chennai. It was his fifth ATP Challenger trophy. Due to his exceptional performance, he rose to his career-high ranking of 98 earlier this month, but dropped to 101st, after his eight-match winning streak came to an end at the Bengaluru Open where …