Novak Djokovic will hope to deal with Adrian Mannarino with the minimum of fuss on Sunday afternoon with the Frenchman standing in the way of him and another quarter final in Melbourne. He is 4-0 in this matchup although they have not played since 2018, where he sealed a three set comeback in Cincinnati.
After a sloppy couple of matches to begin the tournament, Djokovic finally looks to be getting into it. He was always in control against Tomas Martin Etcheverry and didn’t allow the Argentinian a single break opportunity in the 6-3 6-3 7-6 win. “It was a great match, I think. The best performance I had during this tournament,” said Djokovic on court. “Obviously I’m pleased with the way I played throughout the entire match, particularly the first two sets.
The week of Mannarino has been a joy to watch with the Frenchman winning three epics on his way to the fourth round. He has beaten one of the best of the old era in Stanislas Wawrinka as well as one of the top newcomers in the game in Ben Shelton. The latter saw him come from 1-2 down in sets to secure a 7-6 1-6 6-7 6-3 6-4 victory against the American. This week has seen him match his career best at a slam with four other fourth round appearances across his lengthy career.
Mannarino’s run to the fourth round has been great to see but there’s no doubt his fun ends here. He may be able to trouble the defending champion for a short while thanks to his unconventional style but the return of Djokovic should soon allow him to take control. After three straight five setters, a physical matchup with Djokovic only feels like it can go one way.
Prediction – Novak Djokovic in straight sets
