Ben Shelton has shared what Gael Monfils is really like after their Australian Open fourth-round clash. The 38-year-old Frenchman was forced to retire from their match on Monday while trailing by two sets to one. Afterwards, Shelton opened up on a private chat he shared with the former world No. 6.

Ben Shelton (No. 20) will meet Gael Monfils (No. 41) in the Round of 16 at the Australian Open on Sunday, January 19.Monfils enters the Round of 16 after his four-set win on Friday over Taylor

Ben Shelton confirmed that he has a great feeling for the Australian Open, qualifying for the quarterfinals thanks to his victory over Gael Monfils today. The match gave a great show for three sets, until the French veteran was forced to retire due to a physical problem.

American tennis star Ben Shelton has shown his class after opponent Gael Monfils was forced to retire in the fourth set of their gripping clash at the Australian Open on Monday night. Monfils pulled the pin with 21st seed Shelton leading 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-2), 1-0 much to the dismay of the crowd.

Frenchman Monfils is only the second player aged 38 or over, after Roger Federer, to make the last 16 in Melbourne since 1988. He is enjoying quite the start to 2025 after becoming the oldest ever winner of an ATP Tour singles title in Auckland last weekend.

Monfils was struggling with a back injury at the start of the fourth set as Ben Shelton advanced to the quarter-finals

Watch the match highlights between Gael Monfils & Ben Shelton in Round 4 of the 2025 Australian Open Men's Singles Tournament Tennis.

Ben Shelton ground down French veteran Gael Monfils Monday to set up an Australian Open quarter-final against Lorenzo Sonego, who ended teenage qualifier Learner Tien's fairytale run. But again nothing separated them until Shelton ended the resistance of Monfils with a series of winners to take the tiebreak and the veteran retired soon after.