There was absolutely no match.
Adrian Mannarino (35 years old), French No.1 and newcomer in the top 20 at 35 years old (19th), scored only three games against world No.1 Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 of the Open Australia, victorious 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 in 1h44 this Sunday.
It took 1 hour 19 minutes for Adrian Mannarino to score his first game on the Rod Laver Arena, the roof closed after a downpour which delayed the start of the match by a few minutes.
When you finally win a game against the boss after 1h20 of match đ #AusOpen #HomeOfTennis pic.twitter.com/DZhd2kw0nc
â Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) January 21, 2024
Before that, the French left-hander suffered a stunning 6-0, 6-0 in 67 minutes, surely damaged physically by his efforts over the first three rounds completed in five sets.
In total, he spent nearly 12 hours on the courts at Melbourne Park before challenging Djokovic.
More than a Frenchman
Even he preferred to laugh about it: on his chair, between the second and third innings, he ironically formed two zeros with his fingers around his eyes.
âThe first two sets were the best I've played in a while.
In terms of the game and in terms of form, it's going in a positive direction,â appreciates Djokovic, who said he was âa little woozyâ after his first match.
Also read âHis physique is a little unusualâ: at the Australian Open, Arthur Cazaux is ready for any fight
There is therefore only one French player left competing in the men's draw: the young Arthur Cazaux (122nd) who will challenge world No.9 Hubert Hurkacz in the round of 16 this Monday.
In the quarter-finals, Djokovic will face world No.12 Taylor Fritz, winner of Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (7-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3).
The 36-year-old Serbian, in search of an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam coronation and an 11th in Melbourne, confirms his newfound form after a turbulent start to the fortnight.
In the first two rounds, he had dropped a set each time.
He seriously accelerated in the next two.