France's top tennis player Ugo Humbert lost to the second seed Alexander Zverev in four sets on Sunday to leave Gael Monfils as the only French player at the Australian Open.

Zverev beat Humbert 6-2, 6-2 to claim the Paris Masters last November and the 27-year-old German was as rapacious in the initial exchanges in the John Cain Arena at Melbourne Park to sweep through the opening set of their fourth round tie 6-1 in 27 minutes.

The 14th seed responded as brutally. The 26-year-old claimed the second set 6-2.

But from 3-3 in the third, Zverev won three consecutive games to take it 6-3 and control of the match.

His 18th ace of the encounter helped him to a 3-1 lead in the fourth. And from 3-2, another roll of three consecutive games furnished him with the fourth set 6-2 and the match after two hours and 16 minutes.

Humbert's exit turns the spotlight on Monfils who advanced to the last-16 for the sixth time at the tournament after beating the fourth seed Taylor Fritz on Saturday 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-4.

"I keep playing for those kind of matches," said Monfils. "Big player, big stadium, good crowd, good energy. When you're 38-years-old, it's what I want. I had it. It's exactly why I'm playing."

Chance

Monfils, ranked 41 in the world, went to Melbourne on the back of the title at the Auckland Classic. His 13th crown on tour furnished him at 38 years and four months with the accolade of oldest man to lift a trophy at a senior level event since tennis was opened up to professional players in 1968.

On Monday, Monfils will take on another American, the 21st seed Ben Shelton, for a place in the last eight.

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