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French tennis veteran Gael Monfils marked his 40th birthday in memorable fashion, defeating Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo at the US Open in straight sets. The commanding performance on Louis Armstrong Stadium saw Monfils claim a 2-6 6-1 6-2 6-0 victory, cementing his place in the record books as the oldest man to win a main-draw match at the tournament since Jimmy Connors accomplished the same feat in 1992.
The New York crowd embraced the occasion with enthusiasm, spontaneously singing “Happy Birthday” during Monfils’ post-match interview. The charismatic Frenchman, who announced his retirement plans last year, appeared energized by the atmosphere and expressed his gratitude to the supporters. Despite a sluggish opening set, he quickly adjusted his strategy and dominated the remainder of the contest with the athletic prowess and versatile shot-making that have defined his career.
Competing in what will be his final US Open, Monfils extended his Grand Slam record for French players with his 131st major match victory. His wife, two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina, marked the occasion with a special gift. Monfils will face American 14th seed Learner Tien in the second round as he continues his farewell campaign at Flushing Meadows.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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