Gael Monfils is like a fine wine - he gets better with age! The 38-year-old will compete in his 35th ATP final in Auckland following a 7-6, 6-4 victory over the young AmericanNishesh Basavareddy in an hour and 46 minutes.
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Thus, the veteran will seek his first ATP title since Stockholm in the closing stages of 2023. Gael reached at least one ATP final between 2005 and 2023. He ended his streak last year and fixed that already in the second week of 2025.
Basavareddyfell to Monfils in the first round in Brisbane last week. He went further in Auckland and reached his first ATP semi-final. He gave everything against the Frenchman but fell in straight sets after missing his chances.
The young gun dropped only 15 points behindthe initial shot, defending his second serve superbly and facing only two break points. He suffered one break in the second set and failed to steal the rival's serve from five opportunities, which made the difference.
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The more experienced player took the decisive points and sealed the deal in straight sets against the dangerous rival. What's next for Nishesh? The Australian Open first-round clash against the greatest player of all time, Novak Djokovic!
The upcoming star faced no issues behind the initial shot in the opening set. Heprovidedsix fine holds and keptthe pressure on the other side. Gael felt it in the opening games, facing a break point in three straight games.
Monfils saved a break point in the first game with a lucky net cord drop shot winner.Basavareddy netted a routine backhand in the third game on a break chance, missing an opportunity to move in front. The Frenchman struggled again in the fifth game.
He erased a break point with a forehand down the line winner and served better for the rest of the set.Nishesh produced fine holds while serving to stay in the set at 4-5 and 5-6, introducing a tie break.
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It started with three mini-breaks in the opening four points, with the young gun leading 3-1. He missed a backhand in the sixth point, bringing the veteran back to the positive side. Monfils struggled physically and fell 5-4 behind.
However, he welcomed the opponent's forehand errors, earning two mini-breaks and opening a 6-5 advantage. The youngster missed a drop shot, allowing Monfils to claim the opener 7-6 after an hour! The American served well in the first half of the second set.
Unlike the opener, Gael followed that pace and stayed on the positive side. The Frenchman faced the ultimate challenge in the eighth game, facing two break points. He denied them and held for 4-4.Basavareddy missed his chances and paid the price.
He played against the first break points in the ninth game and netted a backhand on the second to fall behind. Monfils served for the win at 5-4 and held at love with a service winner, booking a place in his 35th ATP final.
