For most of the late 2010s, men's tennis was an old man's game. The powerful trio of Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Switzerland's Roger Federer and Spain's Rafael Nadal held on long past the point even the most optimistic fans thought they would.

Gael Monfils beat Zizou Bergs 6-3 6-4 in the Auckland Classic final on Saturday to become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title in a boost before his Australian Open campaign. At 38 years and four months,

It means that Venus and Croatian Nikola Mektic take the title, for their first as a new combination. It will be recorded as Venus’ second Auckland trophy, after he won the tournament here with Mate Pavic in 2016.