Australian Open: Mannarino knocks out Shelton in five to make last 16

Adrian Mannarino, the No 20 seed, advanced to the last 16 of the Australian Open by defeating American Ben Shelton, the No 16 seed, 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 at Melbourne Park.

In a battle of two left-handers, the Frenchman had to fight from 2-1 down, taking the fourth and fifth sets having also won the first on a tiebreak.

Mannarino continues his fine form from last year, during which he won a season-best three ATP titles.

His reward for a long and physical win over America’s talented youngster Shelton is a fourth-round meeting with 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, the top seed, next.

Ahead of his victory, the 35-year-old Frenchman won against Swiss Stan Wawrinka (6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0) and Spaniard Jaume Munar (6-3, 6-3, 1-6, 2-6, 6-3).

Shelton, ranked No 16, won against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (6-2, 7-6 (2), 7-5) and edged out Australian Christopher O’Connell (6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5)) in the previous rounds.

You might also like this

“You can say I’m a hard worker” – Adrian Mannarino on hitting career-best form at 35

tennis majors

Mannarino beats Draper in gripping final to win Sofia Open title

tennis majors

“Shelton wasn’t respectful” – Djokovic on why he “reacted” to opponent at 2023 US Open

tennis majors

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other third-round results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 58.910.000, most recent results first):

• Alexander Zverev vs. Alex Michelsen
• Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Daniil Medvedev
• Cameron Norrie vs. Casper Ruud
• Grigor Dimitrov vs. Nuno Borges
• Arthur Cazaux vs. Tallon Griekspoor
• Juncheng Shang vs. Carlos Alcaraz
• Ugo Humbert vs. Hubert Hurkacz
• Tommy Paul vs. Miomir Kecmanovic
• Sebastian Korda vs. Andrey Rublev: friday
• Alex De Minaur (10) beat Flavio Cobolli (Q): 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
• Novak Djokovic beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry (30): 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (2)
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (7) beat Luca Van Assche: 6-3, 6-0, 6-4
• Taylor Fritz (12) beat Fabian Marozsan: 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
• Jannik Sinner (4) beat Sebastian Baez (26): 6-0, 6-1, 6-3
• Karen Khachanov (15) beat Tomas Machac: 6-4, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5)