Neither Dubai nor the game of Botic Van de Zandschulp (75th in the ATP) seem to suit Adrian Mannarino. For only his second appearance in this tournament, after an entry failure twelve years ago, against Lukas Rosol, the Frenchman (19th in the world) was once again eliminated from the start, this time by the Dutchman (7- 6 [3], 7-5), in 1h52. This is his fourth failure in five confrontations against this opponent. “Manna” also signs his third defeat in a row, after those suffered in Dallas, then in Delray Beach, both times at the hands of the American Marcos Giron.
Played in an incessant and swirling wind, which made Van de Zandschulp say that he “did not know, sometimes, (if he had it) in front or behind his back”, the game was worth more for its uncertainty only for its quality. In two sets, Mannarino (seeded n°6) committed 34 unforced errors (32 for his rival), a total far from his usual standards. With energy, he twice regained a break behind in the first set (at 2-3, then at 5-6) but he completely missed his tie-break, committing two errors on the forehand and two in reverse. In rage, he smashed his racket and received a warning.
The second act was less capricious and saw no break points until 6-5 for Van de Zandschulp. The players were still struggling to keep the ball in the court. But “Manna” completely redacted this twelfth game, by chaining a smash in the corridor, a volley into the net and a direct error in the backhand. A match to forget for the French number 2 (behind Ugo Humbert).
2024-02-26 12:42:23
#Adrian #Mannarino #eliminated #entry #ATP #Dubai
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