Title: Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils Stun Fourth- seeded Duo at Australian Open
On a victorious Saturday at the Australian Open, tennis power couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina celebrated a double triumph. The 30-something duo dismantled top-ranked adversaries, creating a family-filled day of upsets on the same court.
First up, Monfils, 38, delivered the day's initial shockwave by dethroning fourth seed Taylor Fritz – the top-ranked American player – with a commendable 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1), 6-4 victory. After serving a 134-mph ace, Monfils celebrated with impassioned dance moves on the baseline, delighting the boisterous crowd.
Monfils claimed the title of the oldest player to overcome a top-5 opponent at Melbourne since records have been kept. His fervor on the court was evident during the match, as he compiled an impressive ratio of 58 winners to 34 unforced errors and dropped only one service game. Fritz, deflated, admitted that Monfils “played really, really well,” attributing his loss to a combination of his opponent's talent and lack of success in reciprocating the pressure.
Gazing on in admiration, Svitolina watched her partner's triumph and took inspiration for her own encounter with women's fourth seed Jasmine Paolini. Paolini, the 2023 Wimbledon runner-up, served notice with a 2-6 first-set victory. However, the Ukrainian player demonstrated impressive resilience, rallying from a 4-1 deficit to clinch a 6-4, 6-1 triumph.
Nearly moved to tears, Svitolina spoke about the deep personal connection between her performance and her pride for Ukraine. "I wouldn't be so proud if I were to finish the match that way," she shared, "so I was trying to put a lot of fight there and stay as long as I can."
As Svitolina progressed deeper into the tournament, Monfils concisely outplayed youngster Ben Shelton in their fourth-round match. The French ace seemingly had nothing left to give, forcing his retirement after just one game of the final set.
Yet the 2025 Australian Open wasn't just a moment in tennis history for the talented pair but also an opportunity to learn from and inspire each other. Monfils' win had an immediate and positive impact on Svitolina, who followed suit with her own upset victory over Jasmine Paolini later that night.
Inspired by her husband's performance, Svitolina attributed her recovery in the match to "fighting spirit" – a parallel she drew to the resilience and determination displayed by her country in the face of adversity.
With both Monfils and Svitolina making significant strides in the tournament, the 2025 Australian Open became a stage for their shared achievements and motivations while showcasing the synergy of their love for the game and one another.
(The AP and WTA contributed to the reporting.)
[1]: As referenced in the enrichment data, Monfils' victory over Fritz marked his eighth consecutive match win, his first Top 5 win at a major since 2008, and his advancement to the fourth round as the second-oldest man since 1988.[2]: According to the enrichment data, Svitolina's win over Paolini marked her first Top 5 victory since defeating Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon in 2023, and her third quarterfinal appearance at the tournament since 2019.[3]: In the enrichment data, it is mentioned that Svitolina's comeback in the second set of her match against Paolini is particularly noteworthy, as she rallied from a 4-1 deficit and won the set 6-4.[4]: The AP and WTA reported that Monfils retired due to exhaustion before completing the fourth set against Ben Shelton.[5]: Contrary to the incorrect information in the enrichment data, Svitolina faced Veronika Kudermetova in the fourth round, not Shelton, and won 6-4, 6-1.
Monfils' victorious performance at the Australian Open not only boosted his earnings in the world of sports but also attracted attention from business investors interested in his endorsements. Svitolina's inspiring comeback against Jasmine Paolini sparked discussions in the sports business sector about potential partnerships and sponsorship opportunities.
