In a thrilling display of talent and endurance, Frenchman Gael Monfils made history on March 19, 2025, by becoming the second-oldest male player to win a match at the prestigious Miami Open, defeating Hungary's Fabian Marozsan with a scoreline of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. At 38 years old, Monfils delivered an impressive performance, showcasing his renowned agility and shot placement with 15 aces to his name among a total of 38 winners.
Only one older male player has triumphed in this tournament: tennis legend Jimmy Connors, who snatched victory at age 39 in 1992. Reflecting on his win, Monfils remarked, "I hit some different angles and showed I could run and anticipate. I made it hard for him. I hit with a bit more depth in my shots and did not let him dictate, and I think I did well." Despite Monfils’ success, Marozsan had a strong showing with 33 winners but was hindered by 36 unforced errors, while Monfils himself committed 19 unforced errors.
Following this victory, Monfils is set to face the No. 26 seed, Jiri Lehecka from the Czech Republic, in the next round. This match marks a significant moment for the athletic Monfils, who continues to defy age stereotypes in the sport.
Meanwhile, another noteworthy performance came from Australian Nick Kyrgios, who celebrated his first ATP victory since 2022 by overcoming American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Having dealt with persistent foot and wrist injuries for the past 18 months, this win represents a joyful milestone for Kyrgios, who stated, "It's been a long journey. Even to just get to the start line of matches and be scared to just finish them.... But to come out and get a win, feeling like I belong again, is pretty special." Kyrgios displayed his skill with 36 winners and 13 aces, making a strong return to the court.
Sadly, it wasn't a great day for some American players. Australian Tristan Schoolkate crushed Ethan Quinn 6-0, 6-2, leaving Quinn searching for answers. Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli put on a thrilling performance, rallying to defeat Brandon Holt after dropping the first set, ultimately winning 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic also enjoyed success, securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Aleksandar Kovacevic.
On the international front, Belgian player David Goffin managed to turn the tables after losing the first set, claiming a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Australia's Aleksandar Yukic. Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik defeated Argentina's Sebastian Baez with a score of 6-3, 6-4, and Australian Rinky Hijikata managed to outlast Serbia's Hamad Medjedovic 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in a tightly contested match.
Additional results from the first round featured Taiwanese qualifier Chun-Hsin Tseng, who triumphed over Italy's Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (5), 6-2, and wild card Federico Cina from Italy, who achieved a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) victory against Argentina's Francisco Comesana. French player Corentin Moutet was equally successful, overcoming Belgium's Alexander Blockx with a scoreline of 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Notably, Alexandre Muller of France posted a solid performance as well, taking down Japan's Rei Sakamoto in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena faced a tough challenge in his match against Australian qualifier Christopher O'Connell, but he managed to secure a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) win. Lastly, Spaniard Jaume Munar triumphed over France's Arthur Rinderknech with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (5), further emphasizing the competitive nature of this year’s Miami Open.
The Miami Open continues to gather excitement as more seasoned athletes like Monfils aim to defy the odds and establish themselves against a younger crowd. With thrilling matches expected in the coming days, fans eagerly await the next chapter of this sporting spectacle.
