AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Defending champion Gael Monfils misplaced his ATP Tour opener in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday, three days after his spouse Elina Svitolina received her nineteenth WTA Tour title on the identical courtroom.
The 39-year-old Frenchman misplaced 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to 26-year-old Hungarian Fabian Marozzan within the ASB Basic, which might be the primary match of his farewell season.
Monfils received the title in Auckland in 2025 and informed his spouse Elina earlier than Sunday’s last: “If we do not win this yr, I do not know what else to say.” Svitolina and Monfils are one of many few husband and spouse groups to concurrently maintain ATP and WTA singles titles in the identical match.
Monfils bought off to a powerful begin in his first match since September, profitable the primary set with a break within the eleventh recreation. He hit 10 service aces in that match. Monfils dropped his first service recreation within the second set and went on to lose the set, 6-3, as Marozin hit two spectacular winners on the internet.
Monfils put up an amazing battle within the third set. After dropping serve within the fifth recreation, he rapidly broke again and examined Marosan with an influence variation. Nevertheless, Marozzan made a vital break at 5-4 and received the match in two hours.
“It is at all times particular to play in opposition to Gael. He is a legend and an amazing participant,” Marozzan stated.
