Expect prime entertainment when Gael Monfils and Ben Shelton tussle in the battle of the showmen in Monday's Australian Open fourth-round contest.
The Frenchman's incredible start to the season got even better when he took out fourth seed Taylor Fritz in round three, and the 38-year-old bids for a third quarter-final berth at the expense Shelton's booming serve and athleticism.
Match preview
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A stunning Monfils turnaround against Fritz at Margaret Court Arena saw the Frenchman outwit the fourth seed in four sets in just over three hours to set up a popcorn match-up with Shelton.
Having not defeated a top-10 opponent in four matches before the tournament and not at a Grand Slam since a four-set triumph over Grigor Dimitrov at the 2014 US Open, the timeless 13-time titlist stunned a player many tipped for a deep run Down Under.
That triumph means the world No. 41 is the oldest men's player to defeat a top-five opponent at the Aussie Open since those rankings started, and the 38-year-old moved level with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for wins at the opening Major of the year in the Open Era after his 37th against the world No. 4.
The winner of the ATP 250 event in Auckland before the Slam has improved to 9-1 this year before his fourth-round clash with Shelton, against whom he hopes to defeat for a third last-eight spot in Australia after 2016 and 2022.
Monfils became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title this year, and that momentum has now seen him claim three consecutive wins at a Major for the second time in his most recent eight main draw appearances, matching his Aussie Open run in 2022 when he reached the last eight.
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Getting past Shelton's cracking serve will be far from straightforward, especially as the American comes into Monday's clash the fresher of both players on the back of his first victory over Lorenzo Musetti in their third meeting.
The effervescent 22-year-old, 16 years younger than his French opponent, has not played a match hitting the three-hour mark in rounds one, two and three, unlike Monfils, whose first-round triumph over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard lasted three hours and 46 minutes, and the victory over Fritz was three hours and eight minutes.
The United States player's matches typically ebb and flow, and Saturday's victory over Musetti followed the usual pattern, with both players trading sets until Shelton edged the third and fourth, the latter of which was a close tiebreak that the Italian could and probably should have sealed to force a decider.
Having struggled to match his 2023 Grand Slam showings last year, when he only played a round-four match once, having done so twice in his first full season on the men's tour (quarters at Melbourne Park and semis at the US Open), the 22-year-old is one win away from matching his last-eight showing from his Aussie Open debut.
After improving to 9-2 at Melbourne Park in the opening week, Shelton aims to enter double figures in overall wins at a Major for the first time by outwitting an in-form Monfils.
Tournament so far
Gael Monfils:
First round: vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6[7] 6-3 6-7[6] 6-7[5] 6-4
Second round: vs. Daniel Altmaier 7-5 6-3 7-6[3]
Third round: vs. Taylor Fritz 3-6 7-5 7-6[1] 6-4
Ben Shelton:
First round: vs. Brandon Nakashima 7-6[3] 7-5 7-5
Second round: vs. Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-3 6-7[4] 6-4
Third round: vs. Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 3-6 6-4 7-6[5]
Head To Head
With both players meeting for the first time on the ATP Tour, it will be interesting to see who adapts quicker, though Monfils's wealth of experience and a recent five-setter against Mpetshi Perricard's fierce serve should stand him in good stead.
The Frenchman is 6-3 against left-handed opponents in the last 52 weeks (78-48 overall) and enters Monday's match on a three-match winning streak against such opponents, including one at a Major against countryman Adrian Mannarino at Wimbledon last year.
We say: Monfils to win in four sets
Monfils may not have the athleticism and court coverage of his younger opponent, but the 38-year-old's momentum and commendable performance to oust fourth seed Fritz has caught everyone's attention.
It will be fascinating to see if the 38-year-old's mileage takes a toll, while his competence on Shelton's serve and ball-striking on the forehand wing could decide Monday's proceedings.
Either player could win this one, but Monfils should edge this battle of the entertainers in four tight sets.
