Australian Open: Shelton into quarter-finals as Monfils’ remarkable run ends in retirement

Ben Shelton, the No 21 seed, moved into the last eight of the Australian Open after Gael Monfils was forced to retire from their fourth-round encounter at Melbourne Park.

It was an unfortunate end to a wonderful run from 38-year-old Monfils, who became the oldest winner of an ATP title when he won in Auckland in the build-up to the Australian Open.

The Frenchman carried that excellent form into Melbourne, where he memorably took down fourth-seed Taylor Fritz en route to a last-16 finish. But today was a step too far against the supremely talented and athletic Shelton.

But it was a close and entertaining tussle before Monfils’ body finally gave way. Shelton took the first on a tiebreak before Monfils hit back via the same route in the second. It took until the third set for the first break of serve to emerge, with the pair exchanging breaks early in the third before Shelton again took it on a breaker.

It was clear that Monfils was struggling with what looked like a back injury, and just a game into the fourth and final set, the Frenchman was forced to retire.

Shelton, ranked No 20, led 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 1-0 when Monfils, ranked No 41, pulled out on Monday night at Melbourne Park.

The 22-year-old American will play Italian Lorenzo Sonego next.

Ahead of his victory, Ben Shelton beat Brandon Nakashima (7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5), Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta (6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4) and Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 16 seed (6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5)).

The 38-year-old Frenchman won against No 30 seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4), German Daniel Altmaier (7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (3)) and American Taylor Fritz, the No 4 seed (3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-4) earlier in the tournament.

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other last-16 results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 60.627.573, most recent results first):

• Alex Michelsen vs. Alex De Minaur
• Lorenzo Sonego beat Learner Tien (Q): 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
• Jannik Sinner (1) beat Holger Rune (13): 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
• Novak Djokovic (7) beat Jiri Lehecka (24): 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
• Alexander Zverev (2) beat Ugo Humbert (14): 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Jack Draper (15): 7-5, 6-1 ret.
• Tommy Paul (12) beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: 6-1, 6-1, 6-1