On the same day, his wife Elina Svitolina beat WTA world No. 4 Jasmine Paolini 2-6 6-4 6-0 to progress into the round-of-16 at Melbourne Park. For years, the French tennis star spoke about his big desire to win at least one Grand Slam before retiring.

Ben Shelton has shared what Gael Monfils is really like after their Australian Open fourth-round clash. The 38-year-old Frenchman was forced to retire from their match on Monday while trailing by two sets to one. Afterwards, Shelton opened up on a private chat he shared with the former world No. 6.

Gael Monfils has joined Roger Federer as the only men to reach the Australian Open’s fourth round at age 38 or older since the tournament field expanded to 128 players in 1988.

Monfils was struggling with a back injury at the start of the fourth set as Ben Shelton advanced to the quarter-finals

Ben Shelton (No. 20) will meet Gael Monfils (No. 41) in the Round of 16 at the Australian Open on Sunday, January 19.Monfils enters the Round of 16 after his four-set win on Friday over Taylor

After his historic win, Monfils returned to Margaret Court Arena and sat in the stands to watch his wife, Svitolina, eliminate the women's No. 4 seed, two-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 at night.

American tennis star Ben Shelton has shown his class after opponent Gael Monfils was forced to retire in the fourth set of their gripping clash at the Australian Open on Monday night. Monfils pulled the pin with 21st seed Shelton leading 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-2), 1-0 much to the dismay of the crowd.

At the same time, it is worth noting that – with this retirement – Monfils has become the player with the most retirements and walkovers in Open Era together with German Tommy Haas. Both are 33, ahead of Nikolay Davydenko and Philipp Kohlschreiber in this particular ranking.

Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils brought home two matches where they seemed destined for defeat, overturning expectations. They celebrated their victories with a kiss right on the court. Their

MELBOURNE, Australia — World No. 4 and U.S. Open finalist Taylor Fritz is out of the Australian Open after Gael Monfils continued his vintage run through the tournament. Fritz took the first set 6-3, but from thereafter Monfils took control, prevailing 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-4.

When Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 21, was edged out by Gael Monfils over five sets in the first round of the Australian Open, he declared. “Sometimes on the bench I say to myself, He is not 38.”

Gael Monfils was forced to retire while facing Ben Shelton in the fourth round at the Australian Open and the American has opened up on his opponent.