Adrian Mannarino will play in the fourth round of the US Open for the first time in a career at 37. The veteran faced the home star Ben Shelton in the third round and prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in three hours and seven minutes.
The young gun struggled with a left shoulder injury and retired after dropping the fourth set, leaving Louis Armstrong Stadium in tears. They stayed neck and neck in four sets and provided three breaks each from 19 chances.
Shelton hit more winners and unforced errors, counting nearly 50 as he failed to control his strokes, especially from a troubled forehand side.He took one point more but failed to preserve his body for a battle in the final set.
The home player secured a break in the fourth game of the opening set. The 6th seed denied a break point in game seven and held at 15 in game nine for 6-3. Adrian secured a break in the second game of the second set.
He saved break points in the next one and confirmed the lead. They served well in the remaining games, and the Frenchman held in game nine for 6-3, leveling the overall score.
Ben pushed early in the third set and finally clinched a break in the sixth game to open a 4-2 advantage. The American experienced a setback in the next one and suffered a break at love.
However, the home favorite clinched another break in the tenth game to clinch the set 6-4 and move two sets to one in front. Instead of building on that, Shelton faced physical issues.
He saved a break point in the first game and provided two better holds for 3-2. However, the Frenchman provided a break in the seventh game and generated four match points on the return at 5-3.
Still fighting hard, Ben saved them and held for more action. It was the last effort we saw from him, as Adrian held at 30 at 5-4 to seal the deal and achieve his career-best US Open result.
