Monfils celebrates 40th birthday with win over Vallejo in last US Open

French tennis star Gael Monfils turned 40 but celebrated by winning his first-round match at the US Open. On Tuesday, Monfils faced Paraguayan player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo and emerged victorious with a score of 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. This victory keeps Monfils' farewell Grand Slam campaign alive. Monfils, who previously reached the semifinals in New York in 2016, displayed an erratic performance, losing the first set but then coming back strongly to level the match.

His dominant third set and a powerful crosscourt forehand winner sealed the win, drawing huge cheers from fans at Louis Armstrong Stadium. This win makes Monfils the oldest player to win a main-draw singles match at Flushing Meadows since Jimmy Connors did so on his 40th birthday in 1992.