Adrian Mannarino denies Ben Shelton a Novak Djokovic rematch with another five-set win


Calling Novak Djokovic—your fourth-round opponent at the Australian Open has been confirmed.

Here’s the 411: it’s not Ben Shelton.

Adrian Mannarino cut the cord on the projected US Open semifinal rematch Friday evening when the No. 20 seed outlasted the 16th-seeded Shelton in four hours and 46 minutes to match his 2023 result in Melbourne. The Frenchman improved his extraordinary career fifth-set record to 14-3, adding to his opening-round victory over 2014 champ Stan Wawrinka and second-round win against Jaume Munar.

Djokovic had earlier produced his most straightforward win of the tournament while Mannarino and Shelton were battling on Kia Arena. After dropping the second sets in his opening two rounds, the world No. 1 got the job done in straights against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (2), on Rod Laver Arena.

“I’m really relieved and glad that I played the way I played and felt the way I felt tonight. Definitely much better than what was the case in the first two matches,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference.


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