Australian Open 2024: Adrian Mannarino on battling victory and ‘tequila’ recovery - ‘I kept fighting to the end’
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Published 19/01/2024 at 17:47 GMT
Adrian Mannarino has an unorthodox recovery method - tequila. The French player revealed his secret to getting better with age following his Australian Open third-round victory over Ben Shelton, sealing a tie against Novak Djokovic for a spot in the quarter-finals. “I started tequila. That helps to not think too much, you just need to keep going and sometimes you need to clear your brain.”
’I started tequila’ – Mannarino on unique key to success in latter part of career
Following his hard-fought victory over Ben Shelton to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open - where he will face Novak Djokovic - Adrian Mannarino revealed his unorthodox tequila recovery method.
The 20th seed needed five sets in a brutal four-hour and 46-minute encounter to finally overcome the 16th-ranked American, battling from 2-1 down to win 7-6(4) 1-6 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4.
Mannarino’s inspired efforts have earned him a clash with 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, as the pair prepare to battle for a spot in the quarter-finals.
However, the French player’s preparation for the match may raise a few eyebrows, which begins with recovery after the Shelton victory, and tequila.
“I started tequila,” the 35-year-old Mannarino answered when quizzed on how he manages to get better with age.
“That helps to not think too much, you just need to keep going and sometimes you need to clear your brain and stop thinking about the past and just keep going.
“Don’t look back and just go.”
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Mannarino stuns Shelton in five-set thriller - Australian Open highlights
His answer prompted some laughter from those inside the Show Court Arena in Melbourne, as Mannarino thanked them for their support as he “fought until the end” to overcome Shelton.
“At the end, I was not thinking anymore,” he said. “I don’t even know how I was - the level actually, I just kept fighting until the end.
“I was trying to bring one more ball onto the court at each time and that was crazy. At one point I was kind of exhausted but when it is going your way it is pretty nice so thank you guys, thanks to the fans for staying all the time.
“That’s an amazing support that’s for sure. [The] last match, I was fighting in the fifth set and they came to cheer for me and it gave me a push at the end which helped me to win the match and today again.
“I was not even thinking about my legs, I was not even exhausted, I just kept going all the time and they were part of it so thank you, guys.”
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Watch as Mannarino loses his racquet mid-point in tie-break against Shelton
Djokovic continued his bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title and 11th Australian Open triumph with a straight-sets victory over Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Friday.
The Serbian’s next task will be Mannarino on Sunday, but the Sofia Open champion is not even thinking about the next round.
“I just want to enjoy the moment,” he said. “It is amazing for me to be in the fourth round so I don’t want to think about what’s next.
“I just want to enjoy this match, have some good times with my team and you know, we don’t really care about what’s next.”
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