DAY 7 MEN: Monfils sends Fritz packing, Draper warns Alcaraz he's in for a battle

French flair topped American firepower as Gael Monfils turned back the clock to dump fourth seed Taylor Fritz out of the Australian Open on Saturday and book a place in the last 16.

At 38, Monfils is enjoying a late-career flourish and Fritz felt the full brunt of it as the Frenchman rallied from a set down to claim a thrilling 3-6 7-5 7-6(1) 6-4 win in the afternoon sunshine at Margaret Court Arena.

Soaking up punishment from Fritz with a stonewall defence, Monfils dismantled the American with pure tennis "IQ" and danced a jig after sealing the win with an ace down the "T".

The win made Monfils the second oldest man to reach the fourth round since 1988 when the tournament started having full, 128-player draws. Only Federer, in 2020, was older.

"It was an unbelievable match," said Monfils, who is riding an eight-match winning streak.

"Taylor is that strong, serving very well.

"I felt like I could move great today and the game-plan was to hold my best line and definitely change the tempo.

"I think I've done the job."

Monfils, who won the Auckland Classic in the lead up to Melbourne Park, will play the winner of American Ben Shelton and Italy's Lorenzo Musetti.

Fritz, the US Open finalist, bows out with a reality check after making the quarter-finals in Melbourne last year.

The powerful American may look back at the match as a missed opportunity against the oldest player remaining in the draw. In reality, though, he was outplayed by the clever Frenchman after taking the first set.

Order of Play | Watch Live on DStv

"It's just been fortunate but you know every day is different," said Monfils.

"We work hard, I try to be very disciplined with the recovery. I am a strong believer in myself, I still believe I can do some damage.

"With a little bit of luck here we are in the second week of the Australian Open."

Monfils took the court in the match before his wife Elina Svitolina was due on Margaret Court Arena to play Jasmine Paolini - the women's fourth seed.

"I think I warmed up the court for her," he joked.

DRAPER WARNS ALCARAZ HE'S IN FOR A BATTLE

Marathon man Jack Draper says Carlos Alcaraz will have a battle on his hands when they meet in the Australian Open last 16, with the Briton showing remarkable staying power to set up the clash.

The gritty 15th seed has come through his first three Melbourne matches in five sets, rallying from behind in all of them to set up a clash with the four-time Grand Slam winner.

His 3hr 58min slog to beat Aleksandar Vukic in a match that ended early on Saturday morning came on the back of beating Mariano Navone and Thanasi Kokkinakis in similarly tough encounters.

So far, he has spent nearly 13 hours on court, which is all the more remarkable given he pulled out of the lead-up United Cup with a hip injury.

Draper beat Alcaraz the last time they played, on grass at the Queens Club in London last year. The Spaniard won the two meetings before that.

"I need to be aggressive. I need to take my chances," Draper said, looking ahead to the showdown.

"Against the top players you get less and less chances to win games and sets.

"I need to be brave in the way I play," he added.

"But I'm expecting him to come out and know that I've played three five-setters and know that he's got a battle on his hands, and he's going to have to play good."

Draper is only the seventh man in history to win their first three rounds at the Australian Open in five sets, with he said was testament to the work he has put in.

"I'm done after two sets most of the time," admitted the Briton, who won his maiden ATP Tour title in Stuttgart last year.

"I mean, that's just the way it is and that's something that I'm aware of and I needed to be better at that.

"I still have a long way to go, but this is a huge drive forward, the fact that mentally and physically, three five-set matches, it doesn't happen often.

"That's a testament to the work I've done and the place I'm in."