Anniversary Flashback: 20 years since Monfils' first Challenger title

Gael Monfils has always been a showman, an electrifying presence on the tennis court. But before he packed stadiums, compiled viral highlights and owned 13 tour-level titles, Monfils was lighting up a small French city on the ATP Challenger Tour, showing the world what was to come.

Monfils lifted his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title 20 years ago Thursday in Besancon, where he was an 18-year-old wild card competing as the No. 178 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. He was a raw talent, yet already possessing effortless power and flying around the court with ease.

By the end of the week, Monfils had his hands around the trophy, having defeated Christophe Rochus 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the final. It marked one of the early unforgettable memories throughout Monfils’ two-decade-plus career. Richard Gasquet and Fabrice Santoro are the only Frenchmen to win a Challenger title at a younger age. Gasquet, the second-youngest Challenger champion in history (behind Michael Chang), won five titles at that level before turning 18.

^{Gael Monfils is crowned champion at the 2005 Besancon Challenger. Credit: Besancon Challenger}

The ATP Challenger Tour prides itself in being the launchpad of professional tennis. It is a chance for fans to see world-class athletes in an intimate setting before they become household names. Such is the case for Monfils, who reached a career-high No. 6 in 2016.

Owner of 574 tour-level match wins, Monfils has shown no signs of slowing down, continuing to dazzle with untouchable defence and a flair that leaves fans asking, “How did he do that?” Currently No. 38 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Monfils made history in Auckland last month, when he became the oldest man to win a tour-level title since a 43-year-old Ken Rosewall captured the 1977 Hong Kong trophy.

The Frenchman’s Besancon Challenger title was an important stepping stone and roughly two months later, he was back in the winner’s circle. Monfils won the Tunis Challenger, defeating former World No. 17 Santoro in the final. That triumph marked another milestone for Monfils: his Top 100 debut.

^{An 18-year-old Monfils competes in Besancon, France. Credit: Besancon Challenger}

In August 2005, Monfils claimed his maiden tour-level title in Sopot, Poland. He competed in two additional ATP Tour finals in 2005 and was named the ATP Newcomer of the Year — the same season he faced Rafael Nadal in Monte-Carlo, where the Spaniard eventually lifted his first of 11 titles in the Principality. Monfils also faced Novak Djokovic at the 2005 US Open, where the Serbian, then just inside the Top 100, won a five-setter after nearly four hours.

Monfils started 2005 ranked outside the Top 200 and by the end of the year, he was World No. 30. He is not the only star to triumph at the Besancon Challenger, which has been inactive since 2009. Ivan Ljubicic, Tomas Berdych, Ernests Gulbis, Nicolas Mahut, Magnus Larsson and Karel Novacek are among the list of former champions.

Monfils remains a fan favourite, often defying age, expectations and sometimes gravity. His journey from a teenage wild card chasing a dream in France to global icon is a chronicle of longevity, passion and unmistakable style.

Did You Know?
Monfils is undefeated in ATP Challenger Tour finals (6-0). His most recent Challenger trophy came in 2018 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

^{Gael Monfils at the 2005 Tunis Challenger. Credit: Tunis Challenger}