Auckland
Monfils says goodbye to Auckland after Marozsan defeat: ‘It has been a protracted journey’
Marozsan advances to face Ruud; Michelsen, Giron, Mpetshi Perricard additionally win
January 13, 2026
Fiona Goodall/Getty Photographs
Gael Monfils performed his last match in Auckland on Tuesday.
By Jerome Coombe
Gael Monfils waved goodbye to the ASB Basic on Tuesday, when the defending champion bowed out in three units in his last look in Auckland.
The 39-year-old Frenchman started his farewell 2026 season by returning to the match the place he made historical past final yr. Monfils, who in 2025 grew to become the oldest man to win a tour-level title since 1977, was honoured with a personalised Maori spear (taiaha) after his 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Fabian Marozsan.
Auckland farewells a legend 🫡
Fabian Maroszan knocks out defending champion Monfils 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to achieve the second spherical on the @ASB_Classic.#ASBClassic26 pic.twitter.com/3hQXj0ntHa
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 13, 2026
“I’ve nice recollections right here. I’ve been taking part in right here since an early age,” mentioned Monfils, who made his first Auckland look in 2007. “I got here once I was 20 and I’m ending in my 40s… It’s been a protracted journey. It’s been a giant honour for me to play right here, a particular nation with nice tradition. I used to be lucky to win this title. Auckland has a particular place in my coronary heart.”
Final week, Monfils watched his spouse Elina Svitolina match his achievement from final yr by claiming the WTA 250 title in Auckland. At her trophy ceremony, Svitolina mentioned: “Earlier than the match, he instructed me it might be wonderful if we each received the identical match. I at all times had it at the back of my thoughts.”
For Marozsan, Tuesday’s win marked his second victory over Monfils in Auckland and levelled their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence at 2-2. The Hungarian can now sit up for a second-round conflict with second seed Casper Ruud.
Alex Michelsen and Marcos Giron additionally superior on Tuesday in Auckland, the place they set an all-American assembly. Michelsen, who reached the Brisbane semi-finals final week, overcame Mariano Navone 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, whereas Hong Kong semi-finalist Giron beat Alexandre Muller 6-2, 6-2.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard served 22 aces, in line with Infosys ATP Stats, in his 6-3, 7-6(2) win over two-time champion Roberto Bautista Agut. The 6’8” Frenchman will subsequent face Briton Cameron Norrie, who was born in Auckland and reached two finals there.
Former Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by PIF champion Hamad Medjedovic continued his run via qualifying to defeat Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2). The Serbian awaits third seed Jakub Mensik.
