Australian Open: Gael Monfils ousts Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

France’s most exciting tennis prospect has been sent packing by a compatriot playing at his 19th Australian Open.

“Age is a number” was Gael Monfils’ assessment when he broke the record as the oldest ATP tour title winner in Auckland last week.

Height and serving speed are also just numbers, and they counted for little as the French veteran worked over his younger, more explosive compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a memorable five-setter on Tuesday.

Monfils could have completed a remarkable straight-sets victory over the No. 30 seed had he not squandered two match points with double faults in a third-set tie-break, but he held his nerve to claim a 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4 victory in front of a 3,000-strong crowd who read the play well enough to secure a seat on a poorly chosen court three.

Gael Monfils (left) consoles his fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard after winning a five-set thriller in the first round of the Australian Open. Picture: David Gray / AFP

The 38-year-old was well supported in his 19th first-round appearance at Melbourne Park and withstood a barrage of first serves nudging 230km/h from Mpetshi Perricard to force the first set into a tie-break.

Monfils became the oldest ever ATP tour title winner when he took out the ASB Classic in Auckland last week at 38 years old, surpassing the Swiss maestro Roger Federer.

His rich vein of form continued as he saved two set points as his 203cm rival framed an overhead smash that would have handed him the lead, before securing an early break in the second set.

The popular showman earnt yet another standing ovation from a Melbourne Park crowd when he lunged low to his right and delivered an extraordinary forehand passing shot around his 203cm opponent to win the second set.

Gael Monfils made his grand slam debut in 2005, but is playing some of his best tennis 20 years later at the ripe old age of 38. Picture: David Gray / AFP

Mpetshi Perricard showed his flair by sending down no less than eight second-serve aces, and upped the ante in the fifth set for an average first serve speed of 207km/h.

But while Monfils opened the door for his younger opponent when his serve went off the boil, he rarely looked threatened on his serve in the final two sets to send his opponent packing in his main draw debut at Melbourne Park.

Monfils compared the quality of Mpetshi Perricard’s serving to the likes of retired Croatian beanpole Ivo Karlovic as he repeated he spent little time worrying about his age.

“Honestly, I never really think about (the age gap). I never really think about it,” he said after the match.

“You’re the one asking me that. I’m doing my best. I know I’m a little old, but I’m doing my best.

“Last week I was twice the player’s age. I have 21 years of career and Giovanni is 21. The numbers are there, but I’m fighting, so I’m not trying to put numbers in my head.”