On a day that otherwise proved treacherous for the leading seeds, Monfils delighted the sold-out audience with a straight-sets win over German Jan-Lennard Struff to become the oldest quarterfinalist in Auckland for 55 years.
The second seed and defending champion, Alejandro Tabilo, third seed Sebastian Baez and fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo all succumbed in the second round yesterday.
Chilean Tabilo was beaten 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 by 19-year-old American Nishesh Basavareddy, who came through qualifying to earn his first ATP quarterfinal spot.
The American claimed the first set 6-4 and had a break-point chance in the second before the defending champion closed it out 7-5.
Basavareddy was down 4-3 in the final set but broke and then held serve to secure his spot in the quarterfinal.
"I am gaining my confidence with every round. Without the wild card into the Australian Open I would have had to play in qualifying and therefore not have been able to be here. To get the extra week of competition is great," Basavareddy said.
Baez found Argentine compatriot Facundo Diaz Acosta in strong form, losing in straight sets 6-4, 7-6, while fourth seed Cerundolo was upset by Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 7-5.
Eighth seed Alex Michelsen, of the United States, was too powerful for Italian Lorenzo Sonego though, winning 7-6, 6-2, while Belgian Zizou Bergs won the battle of the qualifiers over Italian Luca Nardi 6-1, 6-4.
However, the focus went on the remarkable Monfils, who accounted for the big-serving Struff 6-1, 7-6.
The first set proved a master-class of precise power-serving and deft touches from Monfils.
But world No42 Struff led four times in the second set until Monfils forced the tiebreak, trailing at 2-4 and 4-5 before winning three in a row to claim the honours.
"Today was a tough match. At the end it was better and I felt I was striking the ball better," Monfils said.
"I was pleased with the way I played. I am turning 39 this year and have a different perspective on my life. I do not know what I want to do but I want to enjoy myself .
"I love competition, but I do not have a pure goal yet, just enjoying each game." — APL
