Montreal, August 4: Gael Monfils secured his place in the second round of the Canadian Open by defeating Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak with a score of 6-4, 6-4. This victory marks Monfils’ first tour-level win since April’s Monte Carlo, as he continues his final tour as a professional tennis player in Montreal.
Playing his 15th and final match at the Canadian ATP Masters 1000, Monfils became the second oldest player to win a match at this event. He will turn 40 on September 1. Only John McEnroe and Mikhail Youzhny have participated in this event more frequently, each with 16 appearances.
Becoming the ninth player in the Open Era to achieve 25 wins (25-13) at this event, Monfils has amassed a total of 146 victories at the ATP Masters 1000 level, the highest for any player without winning a Masters 1000 title.
Receiving a wildcard entry in Montreal, Monfils entertained the crowd throughout the match. He secured the win on his second attempt, leveraging his strong serve in both sets. According to ATP statistics, his first serve win percentage was an impressive 84% (26/31).
After the match, Monfils expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you for this atmosphere, thank you for coming, thank you from the bottom of my heart, you guys are amazing.”
In the second round, he will face the tournament’s 12th seed, American learner Tien.
Meanwhile, Mariano Navone set a personal record by defeating Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3. With his 19th win of 2026, Navone achieved his best seasonal record. Previously, he had recorded 18 wins each year for the last two years. According to ATP statistics, the Argentine player saved 11 out of 12 break points against Berrettini and has reached the second round in four of the last five ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. This victory against the world number 41 marks his second win on hard courts against a top 50 player.
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