Adrian Mannarino for the effort ISSEI KATO / REUTERS
Once again winner of a marathon match, the 35-year-old French number one defeated Ben Shelton (7-6, 1-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4) to return to the 8th in Melbourne, like in 2022.
And in the end, Mannarino always wins. The 35-year-old veteran won his third match in a row against young Ben Shelton in five sets in Melbourne. Almost untouchable in the last act, he won his twelfth match out of his last thirteen in this exercise. In Grand Slams, he is undefeated in the final round since… 2015. At the end of the sumptuous fight fought on the KIA Arena, he seemed almost fresher than his opponent, aged 21. The first round, very spectacular and indecisive, set the tone. It was the French left-hander who had the last word in the decisive game (7-4).
And this intense first round left its mark. The French number one then experienced a big boost. After a very tight start to the second set, he dropped his serve twice and ended the second set with an ugly double fault. In the third act, the suspense was once again at its peak. Broken in the fourth game Mannarino was able to get back together thanks to a magnificent cushioned backhand volley, then went ahead with a new break in the ninth game. Val d’Oisien then tensed up as he finished the set and his young opponent erased his late service with a sublime long-line backhand. Very solid in the deciding game, the 16 seed then won the third act with an ace.
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And in this fierce fight, it was Shelton’s turn to experience a slack in the sixth game of the fourth act and to offer the break to the Frenchman with a forehand attack wide outside. The 20th in the world did not tremble and it was with an ace that he went for a fifth set. The veteran tricolor has resources. He who had won 11 of his last 13 meetings in money time. In the last round, the fight was more intense than ever. Indestructible and full of energy, Mannarino pushed Shelton to his limits. The Atlanta native had to erase no less than six break points in his first three service games. The astonishing exchanges continued and the French warrior was rewarded on his seventh attempt. To the delight of the imposing colony of French supporters. Trailing 5-2, Shelton, semi-finalist of the last US Open, was able to get back to 5-4. But Mannarino was able to conclude the enormous fight lasting 4 hours and 46 minutes. Marathon man has struck again and he will have the privilege of facing the master of the place in the round of 16. His second in Melbourne and his fourth of his career.
