Age is just a number! The 38-year-old French tennis star, Gael Monfils, has now become the oldest man to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open. Not only that, with his recent win in the R32, he has now also become the second-oldest man to reach the R16 at the ATP Masters 1000 level since 1990. What did Monfils say after his recent win at the 2025 Miami Open? “I’ve played so many matches and I know it’s not easy to close out matches with a big atmosphere,” said the Frenchman. He’s delighted to see the support for him from the stands, but there lies a bigger challenge ahead of him in the next round. He might not get the same advantage in his next match, as he’s all set to face America’s Sebastian Korda in his next match. Can Korda beat Monfils in this epic fourth-round clash in Miami?
Gael Monfils vs Sebastian Korda: Preview
In January, Gael Monfils became the oldest man since 1990 to win a title. He clinched the ASB Classic title earlier this year. Even at the AO, he defeated the likes of Taylor Fritz and the rising star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on his way to the fourth round, where he was forced to take a mid-match retirement against Ben Shelton due to an injury. Here in Miami, Monfils had already snatched two victories from the jaws of defeat in both of his previous matches. He defeated Spain’s Jaume Munar by 7-5,5-7,7-6(1) in a thrilling 2-hour and 37-minute encounter in the R32. Can he finish things early in his next match, or are we heading to yet another three-setter?
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 25, 2022. France’s Gael Monfils in action during his quarter-final match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. REUTERS/Morgan Sette
His opponent in the next round, Sebastian Korda, has finished both of his previous matches in just two sets. He defeated the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships winner, Stefanos Tsitsipas, in his previous match by just 7-6(4),6-3. Korda’s best record this season was reaching the final at the Adelaide International. It’ll be interesting to see if he can stop the in-form Frenchman in his next match and make yet another deep run this year.
Monfils vs Korda: Head-to-Head
Both these tennis stars have crossed paths only once in their careers so far, and guess what? Interestingly, this will be their second meeting of the 2025 season! Gael Monfils had the last laugh in their first encounter. So currently, the Frenchman has a lead of 1-0 in the H2H record against the American. Can Sebastian Korda put things on level terms with a win in their second meeting? Time will tell!
2025 ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells R64: Monfils 7-6(2),7-6(4).
Predictions: Monfils to win this match in three sets
Although Sebastian Korda will be entering this match following his impressive performance against the number 10 in his previous match, Monfils will still have the upper hand in this contest. Reason? Well, the Frenchman has been a completely different player this year, and his red-hot form is one of the key factors behind this prediction. He has a win-loss record of 13-4 this season, whereas, if we draw a comparison, it’s just 6-5 for Korda in 2025.
However, Korda is one of the most versatile players on the Tour, and both these players have reached the QFs here in previous editions. So, Monfils might be the favorite, but Korda will push it to three sets. It’s definitely not going to be a cake walk for the experienced campaigner!
Talking about their playing styles, Sebi is known for his aggressive, baseline-oriented game style, characterized by powerful groundstrokes and a strong return of serve, all while maintaining a tidy and consistent approach to the game. He often tends to come to the nets and finish off the points elegantly rather than grinding it from the baseliner. Sebastian Korda is one of the purest ball strikers on the Tour!
Conversely, La Monf is known for his flamboyant, entertaining, and physically demanding playing style, characterized by incredible athleticism, relentless baseline play, and a knack for pulling off impressive, creative shots, earning him another nickname, ‘Sliderman’. His incredible flexibility and court coverage, even at this age, make him a really special player on the Tour. Monfils can also turn defense into offense pretty swiftly. His vast experience may help him overcome this battle against Korda in front of the American crowd.
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