ATP Tour

Monfils turns back the clock with late-night Montreal magic

Gael Monfils put on a show like only he can Monday night at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers. The 39-year-old Frenchman turned on the style to beat Polish No. 1 Kamil Majchrzak 6-4, 6-4 in an entertaining match that finished just before midnight in Montreal, earning his first tour-level win since Monte-Carlo in April.

Making his 15th and final appearance at the Canadian ATP Masters 1000, Monfils became the second-oldest man to win a match at the event. He turns 40 on Sept. 1. Only John McEnroe and Mikhail Youzhny (both 16) have competed at the event more than the fan-favourite Frenchman.

Just the ninth man to record 25 wins at the event in the Open Era (25-13), Monfils has recorded 146 wins overall at the ATP Masters 1000 level — the most victories by any man without a Masters 1000 title.

The Montreal wild card thrilled the crowd throughout the match, including in the final game when he flirted with both sidelines on a crucial drop shot-passing shot combo. Monfils served out the match on his second attempt and leaned on strong serving in both sets, posting an 84 per cent win rate (26/31) on first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

"Of course nerves came," Monfils said of the late drama. "He played actually two good shots. I had to give him credit. To be honest, I played so many matches like this in my career. You just try to delete and just compete and try to be very focused on the first point.

"I made an incredible passing shot on the line and then the momentum shifted and I was there."

Next up for Monfils is a second-round showdown with 12th-seeded American Learner Tien. Like Monday's match against Majchrzak, it will be the opponents' first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.