AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2024

Adrian Mannarino

Press Conference

A. MANNARINO/B. Shelton

7-6, 1-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: You gave an incredible performance tonight. How did you feel on court, and how do you feel now moving onto the fourth round?

ADRIAN MANNARINO: Well, I feel good. It was a long match with so many things to say. There was some really good moments, some other less good moments. You have to go through all these things when you play a five-set match.

I was actually impressed of how Ben improved. I played him last year, and I really feel like he's been improving a lot. He was playing really well. I feel like I played a good match, too.

It's been tense until the end. At the end I was not really thinking about how I was playing, all these kind of things. I was just trying to win one point more and get closer to the win. Finally I make it, so it's pretty cool.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What went through your mind when you went two sets to one down? How did you fight back?

ADRIAN MANNARINO: Honestly, I was a little bit upset because I broke him at the end of the third set. I've been serving for the set. At this moment I was feeling good, but I don't think I played a bad game when I served for the set. I could have gone a little bit more. I've been holding my shot a little bit, and he's been playing a really good game, as well.

I remember him making good passing shots on the first point, another passing shot touching the net. This game went pretty quick.

He's been playing well this time. I should have gone a little bit more, but all the credit for him. When I lost that tiebreak, I was just thinking, Okay, the third, the fourth set is going to be one break, one bad game for me, and then he's going to hold his serve. I was pretty sure I was going to lose 6-4.

But things have been different, so it's pretty cool for me.

Q. I think 11 straight five-set wins for you. I want to ask generally, you said on court to the announcer you didn't want to know who you play next. People know that about you. Are there ever times where it's a disadvantage? For example, playing Ben today, did you practice against a left-hander? If you were going to play against Cressy or John Isner, would your coach ever tell earlier than normal that you are playing somebody because you need to practice for that kind of match?

ADRIAN MANNARINO: No, not at all. I don't think I need to prepare special for these kind of match. Many players like to play with lefty before playing a lefty, practicing with a righty before playing a righty. I just think that's bullshit.

This is one of the reasons why I'm struggling to find partners because people, they're really, really intense in their preparation. They want everything to be perfect. For me, doesn't really matter.

Yesterday I was just too tired. I've been playing like 15 minutes with my coach. I said, No, I don't want nothing more, I've been playing enough tennis the last few days.

I think the most important now is to recover and just feel good and prepare on court. That's the most important.

Q. Typically what is the time frame that you will find out who you play? Is it several hours before? Half hour before?

ADRIAN MANNARINO: It depends. I always try to keep it as long as I can because I just don't want to think too much. But let's say in average it's about an hour before. Today I was just at the restaurant checking on which court my friends Mahut and Roger-Vasselin were playing. Actually watching the screen, I saw my match. I was like, Wow, now I know (smiling).

It's always different, the different situation. Yesterday my driver who drove me in the morning just wanted to be nice and say good luck against Mr. Munar. I don't need to know.

People don't really know. Sometimes it's okay.

Q. 18 aces Ben Shelton made against you. Can you talk about his serve? Most players say they have difficulties returning.

ADRIAN MANNARINO: Yeah, he's a beast. I don't know what is his average speed on the first serve, but it's always really high. I thought in the fifth set he would have made more aces.

Actually, what was the most difficult against him is when the ball is actually bouncing, it has a lot of life. It's really bouncing high and fast. It's really hard to control on the racquet.

Yeah, I mean, I'm pretty sure he's going to have amazing result. Seeing how good he's serving and how fast he's improving, it's really impressive.

Q. How tough was the match physically? What are you most proud of with the way you played physically, mentally?

ADRIAN MANNARINO: Well, yeah, that was really tough physically. At some point I was just able to switch off my brain and stop thinking about the soreness that I would have. I was just trying to run, trying to get one more ball all the time.

With this atmosphere, it was pretty crazy. Everybody was just like shouting after every point. Yeah, somehow sometimes you disconnect about your own feelings and you just concentrate on the next point. It's also well not to think about your own feelings. I think that's what I did pretty well. I was just focused on what I had to do. Most of the time during the match I was able to do it well. That was nice.