VETERAN Frenchman Gael Monfils has toppled fourth seed Taylor Fritz in a major upset at the Australian Open yesterday, sending him into the second week of the tournament. The 38-year-old saluted 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-4 in just over three hours to progress to the final 16 at Melbourne Park.

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Monfils sent down 24 aces – double Fritz’s count – en route to winning a formidable 82 per cent of his first serve points. He also posted 58 winners in a typically dynamic showcase of groundstrokes and point pacing. It was all part of the plan, according to the fourth round contender.

“The gameplan was to hold the baseline and change the tempo, hit some big shots down the line and also use some shape. I did the job,” Monfils said post-match. “I’m a strong believer that I can still do some damage and I have big trust in my team.”

In his 22nd season on Tour, the ageless wonder is streaking at eight wins on the trot having claimed his 13th career title in Auckland last week. He now holds the equal-most wins by a Frenchman at the Australian Open (37) alongside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. It was only his second top five win at a major.

“As I always say, I keep playing for these matches,” Monfils said. “A big player, big stadium, good crowd, good energy. When you’re 38-years-old, [that’s] what I want. I had it. I was very fortunate to win it. It’s exactly why I’m playing.”

Monfils moves on to face 21st seed Ben Shelton, who dispatched fellow seeded 22-year-old Lorenzo Musetti in under three hours, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6. Fritz and Musetti were joined by Francisco Cerundolo [31] and Karen Khachanov [19] as seeds to fall on day seven.

Cerundolo took the first set off local hope Alex de Minaur before bowing out 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 against the workmanlike Aussie. Meanwhile, Khachanov lost in straight sets to 20-year-old American ace Alex Michelsen, who continues his giant slaying run having dispatched Stefanos Tsitsipas in Round 1. Michelsen will now meet de Minaur with eyes on another upset.

Another man on a mission is qualifier Learner Tien. The 19-year-old accounted for Corentin Moutet, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3, having recently knocked off fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in a major boilover.

Elsewhere, world number one Jannik Sinner took a tick over two hours to progress with a straight sets win over Marcos Giron, while 13th seed Holger Rune needed four sets to send Miomir Kecmanovic packing. The pair will now meet in the next round.

>> DAY SIX: Draper plays spoiler in third-straight five-setter

AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN’S RESULTS: DAY SEVEN

A. de Minaur [8] def. F. Cerundolo [31] 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3
J. Sinner [1] def. M. Giron 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
G. Monfils def. T. Fritz [4] 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-4
H. Rune [13] def. M. Kecmanovic 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
A. Michelsen def. K. Khachanov [19] 6-3, 7-6, 6-2
B. Shelton [21] def. L. Musetti [16] 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
L. Tien [Q] def. C. Moutet 7-6, 6-3, 6-3
L. Sonego def. F. Marozsan 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, 6-2