Men’s singles – 2nd round: Adrian Mannarino eliminates Hubert Hurkacz in three sets

He released the match he dreamed of. Adrian Mannarino created a magnificent surprise on Wednesday by offering himself the greatest victory of his Grand Slam career, and with the manner that is more. The 33-year-old Frenchman, 69th player in the world, simply sickened Hubert Hurkacz, seeded 10 in the tournament, sweeping him in three short sets (6-4, 6-2, 6-3) and just over two hours of play (2h03 exactly). He thus qualifies for the third time in his career for the 3rd round of the Australian Open where he will face last year’s surprise semi-finalist, Aslan Karatsev, who defeated Mackenzie McDonald (3- 6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3).

We did not necessarily give much of our skin. But Adrian Mannarino, known for not looking at his paintings in advance, was able to stay in the present moment to deliver one of the best matches of his career. Uninhibited against Hubert Hurkacz, yet a semi-finalist at Wimbledon and on the heels of a 2021 season which saw him break through and even play the Masters in Turin, the left-hander has woven his web, stunning an unrecognizable Pole.

Feverish, Hurkacz never found the solution to the exchange

Author of 40 unforced errors in three small sets, Hurkacz never found his rhythm against the grazing ball of the Frenchman who forced him to tirelessly hit the shot more, and often the shot too much. Add to that a certain feverishness on the important points (0/8 on his break points in the first two sets) and the 11th player in the world ultimately had very little chance of getting away with it.

Because on the other side of the net, Mannarino was not content to play against, or to defend. He also surprised his opponent by attacking him at the slightest opportunity: the Frenchman thus hit 26 winning shots (only three less than his opponent), also winning 15 points at the net out of 21 climbs. Symbol of this match: an exchange of 33 shots finally won by Mannarino by containing the opposing assaults before going on the offensive to save a 9th break point at 4-1 in the 3rd set in his favor. With this level, he can clearly dream of a second week in Melbourne.