France's Gael Monfils looks on during his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic at the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Veteran Gael Monfils reaches his 35th ATP final in Auckland aged 38

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Gael Monfils became the second oldest player since 1990 to reach a final on the men’s elite tennis tour after beating American Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the semifinals at Auckland on Friday aged 38 years, 131 days.

Ivo Karlovic holds the ATP Tour record, having won through to final in Pune, India in 2019 at the age of 39 years, 311 days. Monfils edges Stan Wawrinka who was aged 38 years and 124 days when he reached the final at Umag, Croatia in 2023.

Karlovic also reached the final at Den Bosch in 2017 aged 38 years, 110 days while Roger Federer (Basel in 2019 aged 38 years and 80 days) and Rafael Nadal (the 2024 Swedish Open at 38 years and 48 days) also are in the top five.

Frenchman Monfils has been breaking records steadily in Auckland to reach his 35th ATP Tour final. When he beat Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the quarterfinals, he became the oldest player in the professional era to reach the last eight in Auckland.

He became the oldest-ever semifinalist in Auckland when he beat Facundo Diaz Acosta 6-3, 6-1 to reach his 73rd ATP Tour semifinal. Only Novak Djokovic has played more.

France’s Gael Monfils reacts during his match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovicat the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Monfils will face Zizou Bergs of Belgium in Saturday’s final.

“Everybody knows I’m a warrior on the court, I don’t give up easy,” Monfils said after his semifinal. “I’m very pleased with the way I got through today, it wasn’t easy.

“The true fans know, that’s the way I am. I love defense and I feel like from day one if you ask anyone who knows me and tennis really well they will never tell you I’m an offensive player. I’m good in defense. It’s the way I’ve been blessed by the one upstairs.”

The 19-year-old Basavareddy also has been making waves in Auckland. He is the youngest American since Reilly Opelka to reach an ATP Tour level semifinal on hard courts. Opelka did so aged 18 in Atlanta in 2016.

He turned pro in December after a standout 2024 season on the ATP Challenger Tour.

France’s Gael Monfils plays a forehand to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their match at the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Basavareddy has a daunting first-round match at the Australian Open, drawn as a wild-card entry to play 10-time champion Novak Djokovic.

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