Gael Monfils has impressed during the early stages of the 2025 season and has already picked up a title on the ATP Tour.
The 38-year-old began his year in fine form, as Monfils won the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, taking down Zizou Bergs in the final.
Dropping just one set all tournament, Monfils became the oldest champion in the history of the ATP Tour, surpassing the record Roger Federer set at the Basel Open in 2019.
He carried the momentum through to his next tournament, as Monfils reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, knocking out number four seed Taylor Fritz in Melbourne.
Having enjoyed a memorable start to his 2025 campaign, Monfils now reveals his pick for the most memorable match in tennis history.
Gael Monfils says the 2012 Australian Open final was the ‘most memorable match’ in tennis history
Speaking to Gilles Simon on his YouTube channel, Monfils was asked to choose the match he thought was the most memorable from tennis history.
“The final between Novak [Djokovic] and Rafa [Nadal] where they played more than five hours,” he said.
“It’s not just the level for me, it was a crazy final, long and exceptional level, they pushed the limits of tennis again in terms of physicality and level.”
Djokovic beat Nadal in a five-set thriller at the 2012 Australian Open, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5, lifting the trophy after 5 hours and 53 minutes of breathtaking tennis.
Monfils’ fellow Frenchman chose two different matches, between Nadal and another of his greatest rivals.
“If we say most memorable, for example, I find that Nadal and [Roger] Federer the first time at Wimbledon, was more memorable in the history of tennis, beating him in five sets on grass,” said Simon.
“Also, the final Nadal and Federer played at the [2017] Australian Open, when he came back from injury.
“At the beginning [of the tournament], everyone said it was over, his [Federer’s] knee, he’s not going to make it.
“We already believed we were going to have Nadal/Federer in the final you see, and I remember that we were in Japan for the Davis Cup, we said to ourselves, it’s maybe the last [Nadal/Federer match], the last time the two played in the final so there was a huge expectation.
“The match with the ups and downs, from memory that was a very anticipated match.”
Monfils agreed, as the pair looked back upon Federer’s tough run to the final in 2017.
“It’s true that it was an anticipated match,” said Monfils.
“I remember in the semis against Stan [Wawrinka], we said to ourselves can he physically hold out, because he had already won two or three matches in five sets.”
- 2017 Australian Open F – Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
- 2017 Australian Open SF – Roger Federer beat Stan Wawrinka, 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3
- 2017 Australian Open QF – Roger Federer beat Mischa Zverev, 6-1, 7-5, 6-2
- 2017 Australian Open 4R – Roger Federer beat Kei Nishikori, 6-7, 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
- 2017 Australian Open 3R – Roger Federer beat Tomas Berdych, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
- 2017 Australian Open 2R – Roger Federer beat Noah Rubin, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6
- 2017 Australian Open 1R – Roger Federer beat Jurgen Melzer, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
“The first few rounds had been complicated; it was his first tournament back since the operation,” said Simon.
Federer eventually won in five sets, taking down Nadal in the final to lift his 18th Major title.
Gilles Simon thinks the 2008 Wimbledon final was the ‘turning point’ in Rafael Nadal/Roger Federer rivalry
Simon went on to explain why he thinks Nadal’s win over Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final was so memorable.
“The reason I think Nadal in 2008 [winning the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer] is memorable, is because Rafa had been number two for two or three years, couldn’t get to number one, won on clay but couldn’t win anywhere else,” he said.
“All of a sudden [Nadal beats Federer], and it’s the tipping point, he becomes world number one in 2008, he wins the Olympic Games, there is finally a turning point in their rivalry.”
Away from the clay, Nadal held a disappointing 2-5 record against Federer before the 2008 Wimbledon final.
The Spaniard’s big win at SW19 helped him turn things around during the remainder of their rivalry, as he began to pick up several victories against Federer on hard and grass courts.
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2019 Wimbledon – SF | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2017 Shanghai – F | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2017 Miami – F | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2017 Indian Wells – 4R | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2017 Australian Open – F | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 2015 Basel – F | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 |
| 2014 Australian Open – SF | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer | 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2013 ATP Finals – SF | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2013 Cincinnati – QF | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer | 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2013 Indian Wells – QF | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2012 Indian Wells – SF | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2012 Australian Open – SF | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer | 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2011 ATP Finals – RR | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2011 Miami – SF | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2010 ATP Finals – F | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal | 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 |
| 2009 Australian Open – F | Rafael Nadal | Roger Federer | 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 |
Nadal won seven of his last 16 meetings with Federer on hard and grass, as he started to enjoy success on the two surfaces where the Swiss star performed best.
The pair played one final time at Wimbledon in 2019, as Federer finished their rivalry on a high, winning in four sets to advance to the final.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
