Frenchman Gael Monfils because the second-oldest ATP player to win a match at the Miami Open by delivering a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in first-round play on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old Monfils had 15 aces among 38 winners.
The only older male to win in Miami is Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors, who won at 39 in 1992.
“I hit some different angles and showed I could run and anticipate,” Monfils said of his win. “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.”
Marozsan had 33 winners against 36 unforced errors. Monfils committed 19 unforced errors.
Monfils will play No. 26 seed Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the second round.
Australian Nick Kyrgios recorded his first ATP victory since 2022 by taking down American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Kyrgios, who had 13 aces, was plagued by foot and wrist injuries for 18 months.
“It’s been a long journey,” said Kyrgios, who had 36 winners. “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.
“The way my wrist has pulled up the last six months hasn’t been great. Having a win against Mackie before gave me experience to draw from, but he’s so tricky, he definitely caught me off guard. I walked on the court and I wasn’t used to that ball speed again.”
McDonald wasn’t the only American to have a rough day.
Australia’s Tristan Schoolkate rolled over Ethan Quinn 6-0, 6-2; Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli rallied for 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Brandon Holt; and Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic notched a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic.
Belgium’s David Goffin fought back for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Aleksandar Yukic of Australia; Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan beat Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-3, 6-4; and Aussie Rinky Hijikata outlasted Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic 7-5. 3-6. 7-5.
Qualifier Chun-Hsin Tseng of Taiwan was a 7-6 (5), 6-2 winner over Italy’s Mattia Bellucci; wild card Federico Cina of Italy was a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) victor over Argentina’s Francisco Comesana; and Frenchman Corentin Moutet prevailed 7-6 (5), 6-4 over Belgium’s Alexander Blockx.
Alexandre Muller of France posted a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Japan’s Rei Sakamoto; Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena sweated out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) victory over Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell; and Spaniard Jaume Munar registered a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
–Field Level Media
