ASB Classic final recap: Gael Monfils beats Zizou Bergs to claim Auckland title
All week in Auckland, Gael Monfils has proven that age is but a number.
At 38 years old, history was against the French showman; a win at the ASB Classic would make him the oldest winner since the ATP Tour began in 1990.
He leaves New Zealand with that record and another trophy to add to his collection, beating Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in a masterful display at the Stanley St final.
It completed a remarkable turnaround for Monfils in Auckland. He started his campaign poorly; down 6-1, 5-2 in his first-round match against Pedro Martinez before fighting back to close it out.
That first set of the tournament was ultimately the only one Monfils dropped, winning his next four matches in straight sets.
Plenty was made about Monfils’ age throughout the tournament, particularly in comparison to his opponents – aged 27, 34, 24, 19 and 25 – but his class, ability and experience saw him as the last man standing, although at times he looked shattered, hunched over between points to regather himself.
Against Bergs – who was competing in his first ATP Tour final – Monfils saved his best for last.
The Frenchman constantly had his Belgian counterpart under pressure almost immediately, winning his opening service game before breaking that of the Bergs to go up a break as soon as possible.
Bergs struggled with his control all game, with more than 40 unforced errors and often sent attempted winners wide or long with just 12 finding the mark. Monfils was guilty of plenty of unforced errors as well, with 33 to just 10 winners, but the Frenchman seemed to make them in moments where he could afford to.
Monfils was flawless from his own serve; not facing a single break point in the first set before fending off six late in the second when it was clear fatigue was setting in and Bergs was attacking his second serve.
The pivotal moment in the match came in the second set. Bergs, already a break down, had three break points on the Monfils serve, only for Monfils to rattle off five points in a row to win the game.
It was similar in what was ultimately the final game of the match, as Bergs earned another three break points but could not convert.
Monfils, on the other hand, closed out the break of serve in two of the three games in which he earned the opportunity, and needed just one match point to close it out.
The title was Monfils' 13th on the ATP Tour, coming 20 years after his first.
Christopher Reive
Christopher Reive
Gael Monfils is presented with a taiaha and a magnum of champagne before finally being presented with a carved winner's trophy, pounamu and, finally the official winner's trophy.
He might need to book extra luggage for his flight out of Auckland with all of that.
Christopher Reive
That's Monfils' 13th ATP title. He also becomes the oldest winner since the ATP Tour was introduced in 1990. His first title came in 2005.
It was Bergs' first ATP final, and he'll surely learn a lot from that one. 42 unforced errors from the Belgian in that one and a number of times he had the chance to change the match on his racquet but couldn't execute.
GAEL MONFILS IS THE ASB CLASSIC CHAMPION
Christopher Reive
The 38-year-old Frenchman is roaring on centre court after teaching 25-year-old qualifier Zizou Bergs a lesson in championship tennis.
Monfils takes the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, putting the match away with his first match point opportunity.
Set two: Monfils 6-4
Christopher Reive
Bergs attacks the second serve and goes ahead 0-15.
A long rally ends with Monfils putting a forehand just a shade long. 0-30.
Monfils looks shattered out there, but wins the point with a slice from the baseline that Bergs can't return.
Good serve from Monfils and it's 30-30.
Another good rally ends with Monfils getting one wrong and hitting it wide. Break point
Ace. Slicing away from Bergs and down the T. Deuce, and Bergs is getting a bit fired up now.
Well played from Bergs on the baseline. Unforced error from Monfils. Break point
Another big serve, this time it's at the body and Bergs can only push his return long. Deuce.
Monfils absolutely blows that point. An ugly return from Bergs lands in, but he stays alive in the point and Monfils can't reach a return. Break point
Bergs pushes it wide by the barest of margins. Deuce.
And again, Bergs goes for the winner wide and sends it wide. Match point
Fittingly, it ends with Bergs hitting the ball into the net. Gael Monfils is the ASB Classic champion
Set two: 5-4 Monfils
Christopher Reive
15-15 early, Bergs goes ahead with a point at the net. Monfils did very well to get there, but couldn't quite get the shot back.
Deep serve sets up a good point for Bergs, who wins another one at the net.
Game Bergs as Monfils hits his return into the net.
Monfils will serve for the match.
Set two: 5-3 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Another unforced error to Bergs' count.
Monfils moves Bergs around well and while the Belgian does well to get to the ball, a volley at the net falls short.
Monfils goes ahead 40-0.
While Bergs gets a point back, it's game Monfils.
He's one game away from the title and will serve for the match if he can't break the next game.
Set two: 4-3 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Bergs takes an early lead, and back that up with his first ace of the match.
Monfils gets one back, but another ace from Bergs puts him a point away.
Game Bergs. Monfils can't get the return back.
Set two: 4-2 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Bergs with the perfect start to bring up three break points.
A forehand into the net scrubs one of those out.
Monfils controls a freebie at the net nicely after forcing Bergs into having to get a big lob up to return a point.
Monfils roars "let's go" as he erases the third break point. Deuce.
Bergs goes for the winner. Again, he finds the net. Advantage Monfils.
Great shot from the baseline from Monfils.
Game Monfils
That feels like it was a pivotal game in this match. Down 0-40, the Frenchman comes back to win it and stay a break up. All pressure back onto Bergs.
Christopher Reive
The earlier delay due to a medical emergency in the crowd was believed to be due to heatstroke. The delay was nine minutes long.
Set two: 3-2 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Monfils sends a shot wide, and a sneaky little shot drops just wide off the net. 30-0
Great serve out wide from Bergs. 40-0
Game Bergs. Easy one for the Belgian.
Set two: 3-1 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Aggressive play from Bergs early, but he sends a shot long as he gets to the net. 15-0.
Again. Monfils with a good shot out wide, and Bergs sprays his return.
Monfils is making this look very easy at the moment. 40-0.
Game Monfils. He's yet to face a break point today.
Set two: 2-1 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Monfils is making Bergs work for everything, taking a 15-30 lead.
Confidence on show from Bergs to find a winner and make it 30-30. Very different story if that one missed.
Bergs goes 40-30 ahead, but again his work at the net lets him down and he puts a volley into the net. Deuce.
Cross-court forehand from Bergs is strong.
Deuce again as Bergs slices it into the net.
Break point for Monfils as Bergs puts a forehand into the net.
Game Monfils.
It really feels like Monfils is just having to keep the ball in play long enough for Bergs to make an error right now. The Frenchman is playing smart tennis here and executing well.
Set two: 1-1 and on serve
Christopher Reive
Big serve has Bergs reaching for it unsuccessfully.
Double fault - Monfils' first of the match.
Ace. 30-15
Backhand goes long from Bergs.
Game Monfils as Bergs sends a return into the net.
Set two: 1-0 Bergs
Christopher Reive
Bergs needs to find something early in this set, and after dropping the first point he gets out to a 30-15 lead with some good play.
Monfils levels it. Bergs either needs to stop with the drop shots, or play them with more conviction because Monfils is feasting on it every time. The veteran is too good for that sort of execution.
Bergs moves to 40-30 with a Monfils unforced error.
Game Bergs as Monfils' lob goes long.
Set one: 6-3 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Monfils' serve continues to work wonders for him. 15-0.
Great rally ends with Bergs' shot hitting the net and going long. Smart play from Monfils in that one. 30-0.
And again, Monfils takes advantage of an attempted drop shot from Bergs.
One more unforced error and Gael Monfils takes the set 6-3.
Set one: 5-3 Monfils.
Christopher Reive
Serving to stay in the set, Bergs starts off with Monfils' unable to return a second serve.
Well judged from Bergs to let Monfils' shot sail past him and out. 30-0.
Big serve has Monfils out of position. 40-0.
Monfils puts a shot wide. Game Bergs and, if nothing else, a quick hold like that should build some confidence.
Set one: 5-2 Monfils
Christopher Reive
A long rally ends with Bergs sending a forehand into the net.
Monfils plays some good tennis there to set up the point nicely. He's won 90% of points from his first serve so far.
Bergs gets one back. 30-15.
Another long rally. This time it's Monfils hitting into the net. 30-30.
Monfils with a great forehand and Bergs can't get it back.
Some smart work at the net and it's game Monfils
Set one: 4-2 Monfils
Christopher Reive
We're back under way after a few minutes, and Bergs needs just one point to close it out.
Game Bergs
Set one: Game six on hold
Christopher Reive
Bergs gets the first point as Monfils can't get the serve back.
30-0 as Monfils sends one wide.
Beautiful forehand winner from Bergs to go to 40-0.
Shot goes long from Bergs. 40-15.
Double fault; his second of the match. 40-30.
A bit of a delay as a member of the crowd needs medical attention.
Set one: 4-1 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Bergs takes the first point, but after doing well to get to a strong serve, he puts a forehand into the net. 15-15.
Monfils goes ahead as Bergs' return hits the twine.
Big forehand from Monfils and it's 40-15.
Wild, frustrated shot from Bergs and it's game Monfils without much stress.
Set one: 3-1 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Bergs moves Monfils around the court nicely, but Monfils is getting to everything. The 25-year-old tries a drop shot, but Monfils is there and forces an error. Break point
Another break point saved by Bergs, before Monfils lets him off in the next point. Advantage Bergs.
After six deuces, Bergs gets the hold and gets on the board
Set one: Game four TBD
Christopher Reive
Bergs settles in with a good first serve. 15-0
Let (x3) before he faults on the first serve, then wins the point on the second. 30-0.
Great return from Monfils catches Bergs coming to the net and the Belgian has to watch it sail past him. 30-15.
Bergs puts a backhand long. 30-30
Good serve out wide and it's 40-30, but he sends a forehand into the net - his eighth unforced error already - and it's deuce.
Another unforced error as Bergs sends a forehand wide. Break point, but Bergs survives it to make it deuce again.
Beautiful forehand winner takes Bergs to advantage.
But he can't put it away. A bit tame with his volley and Monfils scurries over to it to send back a winner. Deuce again.
Monfils this time sends it into the net. Advantage Bergs.
This time it's a horrible forehand from Bergs. Deuce (4).
Advantage Bergs after an aggressive forehand.
Deuce again (5)
Set one: 3-0 Monfils
Christopher Reive
The serve is working nicely for Monfils early as he's quickly out to a 40-0 lead.
Bergs is going to make Monfils work for the game, though, forcing an error from the Frenchman to make it 40-15.
Monfils finishes the game on the next point, and it's been a clinic so far from the 38-year-old.
Game Monfils
Set one: 2-0 Monfils
Christopher Reive
Bergs, with his first serve in an ATP final, double faults.
He atones with the next, landing a good first serve and ultimately slapping a forehand down the line to make it 15-15.
Monfils goes ahead again, with Bergs pushing a forehand wide.
Two break points for Monfils as Bergs pushes his shot well long. Perhaps some nerves early?
The Belgian saves the first break point with some good play at the net.
He can't save the second, plugging his forehand into the net.
Game Monfils
Set one: 1-0 Monfils
Christopher Reive
An unforced error from Monfils, followed by a well-played point gives Bergs a 0-30 lead.
Big second serve finds the frame of Bergs' racquet - looked like it snuck up on him a bit - and then similar again from Monfils to level the game at 30s.
Bergs gets Monfils running but absolutely butchers a smash at the net and Monfils leads 40-30.
A good serve and Monfils holds the opening game.
We're under way
Christopher Reive
Monfils with the first service game
Christopher Reive
Very interesting clash today. Gael Monfils, 38, has had to battle through a couple of matches, but looked solid in beating 19-year-old Nishesh Basavareddy in straight sets yesterday.
Zizou Bergs is 13 years Monfils' junior, and today will be his first career TP final. His last two matches have gone to three sets, and in his semifinal yesterday he managed to break when his opponent was serving for the match, then go on to win.
I think Bergs can give Monfils a lot of trouble in this match. Monfils hasn't always looked comfortable moving around the court this week and if Bergs can keep him moving it could be tough for the Frenchman. On the other hand, Monfils is a veteran of the game and has shown he knows what works for him. His serve and composure has been key, and will be again today.
Anyway, that's my two cents. We're not too far from a start here.
Earlier today...
Christopher Reive
Kiwi Michael Venus and playing partner Nikola Mektic won the men's doubles title in a walkover
Hello and welcome
Christopher Reive
It's grand final time at the ASB Classic, with veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils taking on Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs.
Christopher Reive here to bring you the action as it unfolds game-by-game.
Good morning
We were all geared up for two finals today to round out the ASB Classic for 2025.
Michael Venus paired with Nikola Mektic were set to take on the American duo of Christian Harrison and Rajeev Ram in the doubles final, however, Ram has withdrawn with an injury sustained in the semi-final.
It means that Venus and Croatian Nikola Mektic take the title, for their first as a new combination. It will be recorded as Venus’ second Auckland trophy after he won the tournament here with Mate Pavic in 2016.
Instead of the final, a doubles exhibition will be played, with Kiwi Isaac Becroft stepping in with Harrison, against Venus and Mektic and beginning at 11:30am.
Then, rounding out the tournament is crowd favourite Frenchman Gael Monfils against Belgian Zizou Bergs in the singles final. That match begins at approximately 2pm.