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Gael Monfils landed the Stockholm title and became the oldest winner on the ATP Tour since Roger Federer in 2019, via ATP Media Info. Monfils, who turned 37 on September 1st, beat Pavel Kotov 4-6 7-6 (6) 6-3 in the Stockholm final.
In 2019 Basel, Federer was 38 years and two months old when he defeated Alex de Minaur for the title. This past week in Stockholm, former world No 6 Monfils won his second Stockholm title and also his 12th ATP title. For Monfils, it was his first title since he won Adelaide in 2022 January.
Also, it was Monfils' first title since becoming a father last October.
[PR] @Gael_Monfils defeats [Q] Kotov 4-6 7-6 6-3 in the final in Stockholm to claim his 12th ATP Tour title (1st in 21 months).
He's the oldest champion in @sthlm_open history and the oldest ATP Tour winner since Federer, 38, at 2019 Basel.— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) October 22, 2023
Monfils thinks Stockholm may be his lucky charm
In 2011, Monfils won Stockholm in his tournament debut after beating Jarkko Nieminen in the final. After not playing in Stockholm since 2016, Monfils returned to the tournament this year and collected his second title in the Swedish capital.
After winning Stockholm, Monfils gave credit to his coach Mikael Tillestrom. Monfils' results weren't great when he returned to tennis earlier this year and that's when he decided to give a call to his former coach Tillestrom.
“The funny thing is it’s my 12th title. 13 years later I won here. I guess 12 is my lucky number so... Crazy. Short story but long story. I’d like to thank Mikael. Before Roland Garros, I told him I need his help again.
He’s like really? I’m like ‘Yes.’ He said ‘I watched your match. It was terrible. Tomorrow we’ll practice together," Monfils said after his Stockholm win. This week, Monfils is competing at an ATP 500 event in Vienna.
In Vienna, Monfils is making his ninth appearance this week. Monfils' best Vienna result came in 2008, when he was beaten in the final in his tournament debut. In his last Vienna appearance in 2021, Monfils lost to Diego Schwartzman in the round-of-16. Monfils arrived in Vienna in good form and it will be interesting to see how well can he do.