The showdown billed as the battle of the French generations went the old timer's way on Tuesday as 38-year-old Gael Monfils saw off 21-year-old Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in five sets at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Monfils, playing in the tournament for the 18th time, won 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 6-3 in just under four hours to move into the second round against the unseeded German Daniel Altmaier.
"‘It's never easy to play Frenchmen, even more so when you like each other," said Monfils. "I am happy with the win. It shows I still have the ability to remain competitive."
Monfils, who reached a career high of six in the world in November 2016, came into the season's first Grand Slam tournament on the back of a trophy from the ASB Classic and the kudos of becoming the oldest man to win a top level ATP competition since tennis was opened to professional players in 1968.
Mpetshi Perricard, featuring in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time as a seed, squandered a set point during the opening set tiebreaker.
Still reeling from the setback, the 30th seed lost his service game early in the second set and, having secured the advantage, Monfils held his own service games to claim it 6-3 and gain a two-set advantage.
During 2024, Mpetshi Perricard surged 170 places up the rankings following impressive runs to an ATP 250 title in Lyon and the ATP 500 crown in Basel.
He showed admirable grit to save two match points in the third set tiebreak and fight back to take the match into a fifth set.
Victory
Monfils, though, broke early in the decider and ploughed on diligently to triumph.
"The match could have ended much earlier," said Mpetshi Perricard. "But I did everything I could to turn it around. I'm 21 and I know I'm bound to improve. I'm not going to go into a depression because I lost to a good player. I just have to be patient."
Adrian Mannarino was another French loser in the opening round. The 36-year-old lost. to the 19th seed Karen Khachanov in straight sets.
However, Monfils was joined in the second round by his compatriot Corentin Moutet who upset the local hero Alexei Popyrin in the John Cain Arena,
The 25-year-old lost the first set to the 24th seed but recovered to take the tie 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and progress to the second round for the fourth time in his six visits to Melbourne Park
In the women's draw, Varvara Gracheva from France advanced to the second round following a 6-3, 6-4 win over Caty McNally from the United States.
Gracheva, 24, is the only French woman left in the tournament following defeats on Sunday and Monday for the top two female players Diane Parry and Caroline Garcia as well as Chloé Paquet and Léolia Jeanjean.
"Both men and Caty were stressed,"’ Gracheva said. "Particularly at the end of the second set but I think overall I was just a little bit more solid. I'm really happy to win.
On Thursday, she will face Eva Lys from GErmany for a place in the last 32.
