Mannarino Triumphs 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 After Shelton Withdraws with Shoulder Injury
This thrilling showdown at Armstrong came to a shocking halt before the fifth set could begin, as Shelton retired due to discomfort in his left shoulder.
It was a fierce clash between two left-handed players—an American and a Frenchman—inside a closed-roof Armstrong Stadium, vying for a coveted position in the round of 16. Ben Shelton, only twenty-two, has made significant strides this season, bagging his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto and reaching a career high rank of #6. The 2023 US Open semifinalist came into this match eager to seize glory at his home slam.
Adrian Mannarino, currently ranked #77, once soared to a career-high rank of #17 in January 2024. This thirty-seven-year-old veteran, with five career titles, always remains a significant threat due to his flat, powerful groundstrokes.
Although he lost to Shelton in straight sets in Canada, Mannarino made it to the round of 16 in Cincinnati (losing to Sinner). This marked his sixth appearance in this round despite not progressing past it in previous attempts. The Frenchman led their head-to-head matchups with a record of 2-1, including a thrilling five-setter last year down under.
Imago
Shelton, seeded sixth, won the toss and opted to serve first. He quickly fired two aces and held at love, while Mannarino made 3/4 first serves to level the score. Shelton showcased an impressive inside-in forehand, holding strong at 2-1, as Mannarino struggled with three unforced errors before losing his serve.
Gaining confidence, Shelton struck his third ace and held easily to 15. Mannarino managed to hit his first ace and maintained his serve to bring the score to 2-4. After facing a break point due to Mannarino’s aggressive overhead, Shelton redeemed himself with an ace out wide to fend off the challenge.
Mannarino, using the new balls and fighting to stay in the set, opened with an outstanding forehand, securing his hold at 3-5. However, Shelton dominated the longer rallies, landed 4/5 first serves, and clinched the set after Mannarino netted a backhand.
Mannarino began the second set and held firm despite a barrage of five unforced errors. In contrast, Shelton stumbled with a double fault, dropping serve after two additional errors and a fortuitous let cord from Mannarino.
Mannarino struggled with 10/14 first serves but managed to consolidate his break for a solid 3-0 lead. The sixth seed fought back with 3/5 first serves while Mannarino unleashed his second ace, maintaining his lead at 4-1.
Shelton struck 3/4 first serves to hold at love yet faced a shaky moment as Mannarino committed his first double fault. Nevertheless, Mannarino rallied to hold for 5-2 with an impressive overhead smash.
As he served to stay in the set, Shelton faltered again with a second double fault but managed to hold at 30 for 3-5. Despite missing 3/5 first serves, Mannarino secured the second set with a well-placed serve and a stunning forehand down the line.
Shelton came roaring back in the third set, quickly holding to 15 with another jaw-dropping forehand down the line. Meanwhile, Mannarino faced a struggle, but he held even against break points. Shelton continued to shine, landing his seventh ace and holding at 30, while Mannarino confronted yet another double fault.
Shelton held relatively easily to 15 once more, and despite a series of unforced errors from Mannarino, the Frenchman managed to hold strong for 4-4. Shelton, then, struck back with precision to hold for 5-4.
With Mannarino serving to stay alive in the set, he faltered at a crucial moment, yielding to double set points. Shelton capitalized with an astounding running forehand, leading to Mannarino conceding the set.
Shelton kicked off the fourth with his eighth ace, fending off a break point and holding strong. Yet, midway through the game, he called for a trainer, indicating serious pain in his left shoulder. He fought through, landing two consecutive aces and holding tight to 2-2.
Despite a spectacular start to the fifth with his 11th ace, Shelton’s struggles became evident as he faced double set points. Despite receiving guidance from his coach to push himself forward, he couldn’t overcome the pain and ultimately decided to retire from the match.
This disappointing conclusion was a stark contrast to the exhilarating contest that had unfolded. Shelton, the dynamic powerhouse, and Mannarino, the seasoned tactician, both showcased their unique styles, delivering an engaging spectacle on the court.
Mannarino’s clutch performance saw him save 7/10 break points while converting 3/9. He hit twenty-one winners to thirty-three unforced errors, along with four aces to three double faults.
Looking ahead, Mannarino will face the talented Czech player, Jiri Lehecka, the 20th seed, in what will be their first tour-level encounter, as they compete for a coveted spot in the quarterfinals.
