Ben Shelton sends touching message to Gael Monfils after Frenchman retires from Australian Open 4R encounter
Ben Shelton delivered a heartfelt message to Gael Monfils after the Frenchman was forced to retire during their Australian Open fourth-round match on Monday. The intense contest saw all three sets decided by tie-breaks. Shelton took the first set 7-6 (3), before Monfils rallied to win the second with an identical score. Shelton then edged out the third set 7-6 (2), after which Monfils, battling physical discomfort, decided to retire.
In his post-match on-court interview, Shelton expressed admiration for the 38-year-old Monfils and shared his hope of maintaining the same level of fitness as the Frenchman in the later stages of his own career.
“I’ve watched him since I was a little kid. I always say he has the greatest highlight reel of all time, and you guys saw some of that tonight. At 38 years old, I hope I’m still walking without crutches. To push me the way he did today and to entertain everyone in New Zealand and Australia over the last few weeks is so impressive,” Shelton said.
Monfils had entered the match on an eight-match winning streak, having made history by upsetting fourth-seed Taylor Fritz in the third round. Reflecting on Monfils’ achievements, Shelton, now 22, expressed his desire to emulate Monfils’ longevity in the sport.
“I hope to be able to create memories like that with my family watching on at that age. It’s really special and unheard of in any sport,” Shelton added.
Monfils’ victory over Fritz had made him the third-oldest player in 52 years to defeat a top-five-ranked opponent in a Grand Slam. Additionally, he had come into the Australian Open on a historic high, having won the ASB Classic in Auckland and becoming the oldest men’s player to win an ATP Tour title since 1977.
Gael Monfils Prioritizes Family Over Grand Slam Ambitions
Following his win against Fritz, Monfils made a touching statement about his true priorities. When asked whether he believed he could win the Australian Open, Monfils candidly responded:
“Win? No. To be honest with you, it’s not even a dream to win the tournament. My dream is to be old, have a lot of kids, and be healthy. That’s your dream, I guess, for me to win a Slam. But my dream is to have an unbelievable family. Tennis is cool, of course, you want to have a goal and a dream, but my dream is out there.”
Monfils is married to fellow tennis star Elina Svitolina, and the couple shares a daughter named Skai. They are beloved by fans as one of tennis’ most endearing couples. During Monfils’ match against Shelton, Svitolina encouraged fans to support her husband. Although his campaign has ended, Monfils will be courtside cheering for Svitolina when she takes on Madison Keys in the Australian Open quarterfinal on Wednesday, January 22.
