Monfils becomes oldest to reach Auckland quarters in 55 years

Frenchman Gael Monfils reached the quarter-finals of the Auckland Open by defeating German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 7-6 (5) at the ASB Tennis Arena on Wednesday.

The win makes the 38-year-old Monfils the oldest player to reach the quarter-finals in Auckland since 1970.

The Frenchman, ranked No 52, will play lucky loser Facundo Diaz Acosta next.

Monfils won against Spaniard Pedro Martinez Portero (1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3) in the previous round of the tournament.

Earlier in the week, Struff, ranked No 42, won against Chinese Yunchaokete Bu (6-3, 6-4).

Auckland ATP 250, other second-round matches (ASB Tennis Arena, hard, USD 766,290):

• Roberto Carballes Baena beat Francisco Cerundolo (4): 6-2, 7-5
• Facundo Diaz Acosta beat Sebastian Baez (3): 6-4, 7-6 (1)
• Alex Michelsen (8) beat Lorenzo Sonego: 7-6 (3), 6-2
• Nishesh Basavareddy (Q) beat Alejandro Tabilo (2): 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
• Zizou Bergs (Q) beat Luca Nardi (Q): 6-1, 6-4
• Ben Shelton vs. Jakub Mensik
• Mariano Navone vs. Nuno Borges