Melbourne, Jan 20 (UNI) Ben Shelton sealed a gripping victory over 38-year-old Gael Monfils on Monday to advance to the Australian Open 2025 quarterfinals.
The 22-year-old American triumphed 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 1-0 retired after nearly three hours of intense action. Monfils, a 19th-time Australian Open participant, was forced to retire due to a back injury after pushing Shelton to the limit.
Monfils had impressed throughout the tournament, riding an eight-match winning streak, but the physically demanding contest took a toll on his body. Shelton, the 21st seed, showed resilience and skill to secure a hard-fought win.