Intense Battle Between Mannarino and Tiafoe Ends in Defeat for Mannarino

A defeat is a defeat, but if the destination is the same, in this case the exit door, the path also counts. Adrian Mannarino offered a magnificent opposition to Frances Tiafoe on Friday evening on the Louis-Armstrong court. The fight was engaged, intense and often very spectacular between two players who do not hesitate to deliver “hot shot” after “hot shot”. More consistent, the American had the last word in four sets (4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6) but this Round of 16 was really worth a look.

It was a play in three acts. The first turned to the advantage of Mannarino, very opportunistic by converting his only break point, against an erratic and perhaps a little tense Tiafoe. But the French still had to whip because the intensity was already there. We were going to see it very quickly, “Manna” was going to pay for this debauchery of effort. Until 6-4, 2-2, everything was fine. Then he clearly stuck physically, when his opponent with a boxer physique kept his foot on the accelerator.

A 4e foil set

Once her first break of the evening in her pocket, Frances Tiafoe was fully freed to line up seven games in a row. A series that allowed him to bend the second set and take a decisive advantage in the next (4-6, 6-2, 3-0). When the 2022 semi-finalist broke again early in the fourth set, it didn’t feel good at all for Adrian Mannarino. It was then difficult to imagine that this set could become one of the most exciting since the beginning of this US Open.

It was enough for the Francilien to unbreak to revive. It was his first opportunity since his break at the start of the match. From there, the show was magnificent. Adrian Mannarino, again in the match, even became unplayable to once again take the face-off from Tiafoe. The highlight of this meeting: Tiafoe quietly led 40-15 to 3-3, before seeing the lightning fall on him. Four consecutive winning points, between crazy returns and a volley of forehand while jumping.

Unfortunately for him, the left-hander allowed the world No. 10 to immediately return to his height. It was ultimately in the deciding game that this set, and ultimately this match, was decided. Too bad for Mannarino, who led 3-2 with a mini-break in his pocket, and who was very close to giving himself a set point at 5-5. But his forehand left him. This was often his little weak point in this round of 16. Winner 8 points to 6 on his second match point, Tiafoe knows he has just taken a big thorn out of his foot.

The Mannarino show: 4 crazy points for the break

2023-09-01 22:09:00
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