Gael Monfils has become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title in history, overtaking Roger Federer’s record which had stood since 2019.

The Frenchman beat Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in Auckland to win the ASB Classic at 38 years, 4 months, and seven days old, recording his 13th tour singles title the day before the start of the 2025 Australian Open.

He edged through a tense final game, in which he kept pausing to wipe sweat from his racket handle and Bergs contested a serve on break point which landed comfortably inside the box, saving three break points in the game and six in the second set in total.

“Age is a number, but we keep working,” Monfils said on court after the win, 20 years after his first title in Sopot, Poland in 2005.

“I’m still striking a good ball. Hopefully many more to come.”

Monfils, who is married to top-30 WTA Tour player Elina Svitolina, said he wanted to win the tournament for their daughter, Skai midway through.

“She might just wake up now. It’s my second final as a dad and I’m really happy, super happy let’s say that I could win a tough final.”

Federer was 38 years, two months and 13 days old when he won the Basel title in Switzerland in 2019, with Monfils surpassing his record by over a month. Monfils is the oldest tour-level winner since Ken Rosewall in 1977, with American Pacho Gonzalez holding the record for the oldest-ever men’s singles title winner since 1968. Gonzalo was 44 years, seven months and four days when he won the Kingston title in 1972. The ATP Tour was established in 1990.

Monfils will face compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round in Melbourne, with Bergs taking on Facundo Diaz Acosta.

(Phil Walter / Getty Images)