Adrian Mannarino has a unique habit of not wanting to know who his next opponent is until the last possible moment. He believes that this knowledge only adds unnecessary pressure, so he makes a conscious effort to avoid finding out before each match.
Reworded: It was a challenging task for him in Melbourne. He discovered his second-round opponent after his driver wished him luck against Jaume Munar. During another match, he was simply checking the schedule of a friend’s game when he was surprised to see his own match on the screen. He exclaimed, “Wow, now I know!”
Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, knew exactly who he was playing long before they entered Rod Laver Arena on Sunday afternoon and prepared meticulously for the challenge, determined, as always, to eke out the 1% that could make the difference. What followed was a complete mismatch as Djokovic demolished Mannarino 6-0, 6-0, 6-3, producing his best match of the tournament to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Djokovic is set to compete in his 58th quarter-final at a grand slam, matching Roger Federer’s record. He has also tied with Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe for the second-highest number of quarter-finals (14) at the Australian Open. Djokovic’s impressive winning streak at this tournament has now reached 32 consecutive matches.
Most importantly, after starting the tournament still searching for his form and then struggling in the opening two rounds, the victory was easily Djokovic’s most impressive and provided further evidence that his level is rising. “Today was the best day in terms of tennis, the way I felt on the court. I’m really excited to enter the second week,” said Djokovic.
Mannarino stepped onto Rod Laver Arena after spending close to 12 hours playing in three previous rounds, all of which he won in five sets. Despite being 35 years old, he is currently at the peak of his tennis abilities. His playing style is distinctive, characterized by short, abbreviated groundstrokes that make it challenging for opponents to predict and counter. He also utilizes his skills in redirecting his rivals’ strengths, while also showcasing a diverse range of shots and strategic court maneuvers.
However, these resources are insufficient when facing Djokovic. Mannarino attempted to play outside of his usual style, hitting the ball early and attempting to control the pace, but Djokovic’s exceptional defense led to mistakes. In contrast, Djokovic served exceptionally well during critical moments and effortlessly broke down Mannarino’s defense at will. Throughout the numerous extended rallies, both players maneuvered each other around the court, but it was consistently Djokovic who emerged victorious.
In just 33 minutes, Djokovic claimed the first set, followed by a 34-minute victory in the second set. Mannarino, having not won a single game in two sets, sat back in his seat and jokingly formed the shape of zeroes with his fingers, laughing with his support team. As the outcome seemed certain, the crowd entertained themselves by enthusiastically cheering for a single game. Djokovic occasionally responded to their taunts with gestures of his own.
Djokovic expressed that there was a lot of pressure in the third set, wondering if his opponent would win a game. The crowd was rooting for his opponent to win a game and stay in the match. Djokovic even considered intentionally losing a game to take a break and refocus from the increasing tension of the match. He acknowledged that it was difficult for his opponent, but also challenging for himself to avoid dwelling on the possibility of a “triple bagel” (winning 6-0, 6-0, 6-0).
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Mannarino erupted in laughter when he won his first game at the start of the first set, but the joy was short-lived. Djokovic dominated in the third set to advance to the quarter-finals, where he will compete against 12th seed Taylor Fritz. Fritz defeated 7th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a thrilling 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 match to secure his spot in the quarter-finals.
Novak Djokovic has a perfect 8-0 record against Taylor Fritz, with seven of those victories coming in straight sets. The only time Fritz was able to challenge him was at the 2021 Australian Open, where they engaged in an intense five-set match.
“I believe many of these matchups took place when I was younger,” stated Fritz. “But since then, I have grown and become a better player. In the times I have faced him, I haven’t been able to bring my best performance, which is crucial when competing against someone like Novak. If I want to have a chance, I will need to serve as well as I did today. However, I am feeling confident that if I continue to play at this level, I have a chance at success.”
