Adrian Mannarino, like fine wine, keeps getting better

There was the one that got away, at Wimbledon, in 2021. About to head into a fifth set with Roger Federer, Adrian Mannarino collapsed on the court late in the fourth, injuring his knee and was later forced to retire from his first-round match against the Swiss maestro at the conclusion of the fourth set.

That match represented the opportunity of a lifetime for Mannarino. On his best surface, he was toe-to-toe with the eight-time Wimbledon champion, getting the better of the play, until disaster struck.

Technically, per the ATP, it does not go down as a five-set loss, which means we have to go back all the way to the 2015 US Open to find Adrian Mannarino’s last five-set loss.

Since 2017, the Frenchman has embarked on a remarkable seven-year stretch that has seen him win the his last 11 five-setters, including the biggest, last night in Melbourne, a 7-6(4) 1-6 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4 stunner over 16th-seeded Ben Shelton.

The American and his ballistic game were the focus of the evening. Shelton, a rocket-serving southpaw was the man everybody ticketed for the round of 16 and another chance to hang up the phone (or be hunt up on) against Novak Djokovic. But it was Mannarino, 35 years of age and playing at a career-high ranking, and as the No 1 Frenchman, that did the trick.

And tennis really does feel like a trick with the clever southpaw. He’s nondescript in so many ways, from his brandless t-shirt to his regular guy physique and low-key technique on court. Mannarino has simple, slappy strokes, short backswings and a game that wouldn’t look out of place on the public courts, but don’t be fooled by the aesthetics – this guy is a tennis genius, a shotmaker extraordinaire and a tactician of the highest order. How else could be thriving on tour, befuddling behemoths like Shelton, and winning three consecutive five-setters to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open?

To fully understand what makes Mannarino tick, we have to listen to him explain some of his unconventional views.

Yesterday he said he never bothers practicing with a lefty before he plays against one, saying “Many players like to play with lefty before playing a lefty, practicing with a righty before playing a righty. I just think that’s bullshit.”

Credit the Frenchman for not overthinking it.

Even better, Mannarino says told reporters that he prefers not to know who he will be playing against until the moment he steps on the court to face them. He says he found out that he was playing Shelton while having dinner and watching a match on TV. Before his second-round match, he said his driver told him on his way to Melbourne Park. Who does that?

Adrian Mannarino does…

And his lack of advance scouting doesn’t seem to affect him one bit.

Like a distressed pinot noir vine, Mannarino can put his roots deep into the match and find ways to win that other players simply aren’t capable of. He’s mentally tough, he’s as crafty as they come, he can deflect and absorb pace, and run like a rabbit for hours on end.

It’s about time we give this man his due. He deserves to be recognised as one of the best French players of his generation, lumped right in there with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils. Ok, sure, those for “Musketeers” all have Mannarino beat in terms of titles and Grand Slam performance, but we can’t overlook the fact that Mannarino’s getting better with age. At 35 and going on 36 (he’ll celebrate his birthday in June) he’s playing the best tennis of his career, and there’s something to be said for that.

Mannarino will get a chance to show the world what he’s made of when he faces world-beating Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 on Sunday in Melbourne.

Some would call it a death sentence (and it typically is in Melbourne for all comers), but for Mannarino, who has battled so valiantly to get where he is at this moment, it’s an opportunity, and a well-deserved one at that, to shine.

You might also like this

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

tennis majors

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

tennis majors