GAEL MONFILS IS THE ASB CLASSIC CHAMPION

The 38-year-old Frenchman is roaring on centre court after teaching 25-year-old qualifier Zizou Bergs a lesson in championship tennis. 

Monfils takes the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, putting the match away with his first match point opportunity. 

04:48 pm

Gael Monfils celebrates winning the ASB Classic Photosport

04:16 pm

Gael Monfils is presented with a taiaha and a magnum of champagne before finally being presented with a carved winner's trophy, pounamu and, finally the official winner's trophy. 

He might need to book extra luggage for his flight out of Auckland with all of that.

03:53 pm

That's Monfils' 13th ATP title. He also becomes the oldest winner since the ATP Tour was introduced in 1990. His first title came in 2005. 

It was Bergs' first ATP final, and he'll surely learn a lot from that one. 42 unforced errors from the Belgian in that one and a number of times he had the chance to change the match on his racquet but couldn't execute. 

03:49 pm

Set two: Monfils 6-4

Bergs attacks the second serve and goes ahead 0-15. 

A long rally ends with Monfils putting a forehand just a shade long. 0-30.

Monfils looks shattered out there, but wins the point with a slice from the baseline that Bergs can't return. 

Good serve from Monfils and it's 30-30.

Another good rally ends with Monfils getting one wrong and hitting it wide. Break point

Ace. Slicing away from Bergs and down the T. Deuce, and Bergs is getting a bit fired up now. 

Well played from Bergs on the baseline. Unforced error from Monfils. Break point

Another big serve, this time it's at the body and Bergs can only push his return long. Deuce. 

Monfils absolutely blows that point. An ugly return from Bergs lands in, but he stays alive in the point and Monfils can't reach a return. Break point

Bergs pushes it wide by the barest of margins. Deuce. 

And again, Bergs goes for the winner wide and sends it wide. Match point

Fittingly, it ends with Bergs hitting the ball into the net. Gael Monfils is the ASB Classic champion

03:38 pm

Set two: 5-4 Monfils

15-15 early, Bergs goes ahead with a point at the net. Monfils did very well to get there, but couldn't quite get the shot back.

Deep serve sets up a good point for Bergs, who wins another one at the net. 

Game Bergs as Monfils hits his return into the net. 

Monfils will serve for the match.

03:35 pm

Set two: 5-3 Monfils

Another unforced error to Bergs' count. 

Monfils moves Bergs around well and while the Belgian does well to get to the ball, a volley at the net falls short. 

Monfils goes ahead 40-0. 

While Bergs gets a point back, it's game Monfils. 

He's one game away from the title and will serve for the match if he can't break the next game. 

03:31 pm

Set two: 4-3 Monfils

Bergs takes an early lead, and back that up with his first ace of the match. 

Monfils gets one back, but another ace from Bergs puts him a point away. 

Game Bergs. Monfils can't get the return back.

03:29 pm

Set two: 4-2 Monfils

Bergs with the perfect start to bring up three break points. 

A forehand into the net scrubs one of those out. 

Monfils controls a freebie at the net nicely after forcing Bergs into having to get a big lob up to return a point. 

Monfils roars "let's go" as he erases the third break point. Deuce.

Bergs goes for the winner. Again, he finds the net. Advantage Monfils. 

Great shot from the baseline from Monfils. 

Game Monfils

That feels like it was a pivotal game in this match. Down 0-40, the Frenchman comes back to win it and stay a break up. All pressure back onto Bergs. 

03:24 pm

The earlier delay due to a medical emergency in the crowd was believed to be due to heatstroke. The delay was nine minutes long. 

Good morning

We were all geared up for two finals today to round out the ASB Classic for 2025.

Michael Venis paired with Nikola Mektic were set to take on the American duo of Christian Harrison and Rajeev Ram in the doubles final, however Ram has withdrawn with an injury sustained in the semi-final.

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.

Instead of the final, a doubles exhibition will be played, with Kiwi Isaac Becroft stepping in with Harrison, against Venus and Mektic and beginning at 11:30am.

Then, rounding out the tournament is crowd favouriteFrenchman Gael Monfils against Belgian Zizou Bergs in the singles final. That match begins at approximately 2pm.