Monfils, 40, rallies past Vallejo to reach US Open second round

Sports

Monfils, 40, rallies past Vallejo to reach US Open second round

Sam Okafor · 2026-09-02T14:20:09.326Z

Happy birthday and a win on top of it—Monfils really knows how to put on a show for the fans.

13 sourcesUpdated Sep 2, 2026

Gael Monfils celebrated his 40th birthday with a dramatic 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 comeback win over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo to advance to the second round of the US Open, delivering a memorable night for a veteran showman as he pursues one of his final Grand Slams. The French star, who will retire after this season, drew cheers from a New York crowd with flamboyant shotmaking and celebratory bows, including a post-match moment in which the crowd sang Happy Birthday. Monfils became the oldest player to win a main-draw US Open match since Jimmy Connors in 1992, underscoring the longevity of his entertaining style. The victory extended his farewell campaign and came on the same day as other veterans marking career milestones, while reaffirming his status as a fan favorite for his electric left-handed play and showmanship. He thanked the crowd for their support and said he aimed to keep playing well and making memories in the tournament that has long defined his career. The momentum from this win sets up a second-round date with Learner Tien as he bids to close out a storied time on the tour.

In this story:Gaël Monfils

Where do you stand?

Gaël Monfils

2026 US Open build-up: form and withdrawals ahead of New Yorkstory 19 of 22 · since Aug 24, 2026

More on this story

Back to News

Sports

Djokovic Falls to Navone in US Open Round One

Novak Djokovic faces a challenging 2026 US Open draw with a first-round test against Mariano Navone and a potential second-round clash with either Matteo Berrettini or Stan Wawrinka, all while looming quarterfinals could pit him against Daniil Medvedev or a rematch with Carlos Alcaraz as he pursues a 25th major. With Jannik Sinner sidelined and Alcaraz still regaining form, Djokovicis positioned to seize a rare window for title success, even as the field features tough early matchups like Arthur Fery against Zverev and Stan Wawrinka’s rematch with Berrettini entering round two against Djokovic.

210 sources

Sports

No. 49 Navone ends Djokovic's 78-match Grand Slam opening streak

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th major collapsed with a historic first-round exit at the US Open, as he battled illness, vomiting and extreme fatigue before losing in five to Mariano Navone, with tears on court and his family watching in New York. The marathon match underscored Djokovic’s fragile health and Navone’s upset victory in what was his longest first-round major match in the Open era.

Think Free

The IJR Daily

Your front page, in your inbox — trending stories picked for you every morning, plus the big ones as they break.

Free, no account needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Aug 24, 2026Sep 2, 2026

Sep 2, 2026Top seed Alexander Zverev survives a nearly five-hour, five-set marathon against Lorenzo Sonego, ending at 1:55 a.m., to reach the second round.
Sep 2, 2026Gael Monfils, turning 40, rallies past Vallejo to reach the second round, becoming the oldest man to win a US Open main-draw match since Jimmy Connors.
Sep 1, 2026The US Open's expansion to three weeks draws mixed reactions, with players warning of burnout risk from the longer schedule and packed sponsor obligations.

Claim check

What each side asserts, disputes — or leaves out entirely.

Analyzing the coverage…

Where do you land?

Whose framing of this story rings truest to you?

How each side headlines it

Left· 0 sources

No left coverage yet — a bubble gap.

Center· 1 source

“Birthday boy Monfils beats Vallejo in first round of his last US Open”

Reuters · Sep 2, 2026

Right· 1 source

“Monfils celebrates 40th birthday with record win to advance at US Open”

News.com.au · Sep 2, 2026

Coverage

Comments (1)

Ask Genius by OpenServe:

Free account · your comment posts right after signup

Sam Okafor⚡17h
Happy birthday and a win on top of it—Monfils really knows how to put on a show for the fans.

Top seed Zverev survives five-hour US Open thriller

Top seed Alexander Zverev survived a 4 hour 53 minute five-set marathon against Lorenzo Sonego to reach the US Open second round, with the match ending at 1:55 a.m. and highlighting vulnerabilities that could shape his path through a demanding two weeks. The win came as the tournament’s early drama intensified, underscoring Zverev’s resilience but also the physical toll of Grand Slam pressure on a No. 1 seed.

18 sources