Gaël Monfils will play his second round match at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday against eighth seed Alexander Bublik boasting another line on an illustrious CV as the Frenchman with the most wins at Masters 1000 tournaments.
The 39-year-old, who is retiring from the ATP circuit at the end of the season, earned the accolade with a 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 win over the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
The victory allowed him to move past compatriot Richard Gasquet and give him a 145th success at one of the nine tournaments which are considered the most prestigious on the circuit after the Grand Slam championships in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York.
Monfils also became the second-oldest Masters 1000 match winner behind Ivo Karlovic who reached the last-16 at Indian Wells Masters in March 2019 when he was 40.
"It’s never easy the first match on clay," said Monfils who reached the final at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2016.
"I haven’t played since Indian Wells but in the end I found my rhythm," he added.
"It’s been a long ride since my first match here in Monte Carlo in 2005. I’m just pleased to win one more match."
Last October, Monfils said 2026 would be his final fling on the senior tennis circuit after turning professional in 2004.
In an era dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, Monfils distinguished himself as the showman incarnate winning 13 of the 35 finals he contested.
Australian Open tennis chiefs bid au revoir to French tennis star Monfils
World number 34 Ugo Humbert emerged with the win from his all-French clash with Moïse Kouamé.
Humbert, 27, beat the 17-year-old 6-3, 7-5.
"I’m super happy that I’ve won my first match of the season on clay," Humbert said. "He’s really young but he has a good future. He has a big serve and moves very well."
On Tuesday in the second round, Humbert will face the second seed Jannik Sinner.
The 24-year-old Italian will play his first competitive match of the season on clay after becoming the first player to win the "Sunshine Double" – the Indian Wells Masters and Miami Masters – without dropping a set at the hardcourt tournaments in the United States.
"I really love to play these kind of matches to see where I am with my game," said Humbert.
"It will be a nice atmosphere between the Italians and the French. I’m super excited for this match."
On Monday in the first round, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech takes on the 12th seed Karen Khachanov and the 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, who, like Monfils, will retire at the end of the season, faces Sebastian Baez from Argentina.
