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Frenchman stuns Djokovic with ridiculous shot

Adrian Mannarino has pulled off an incredible display of skill to stun Novak Djokovic at the Cincinnati Masters.

The Frenchman found himself in a tricky situation after being drawn to the net from a Djokovic drop-shot, but he responded in epic fashion.

When the Serb lobbed him in what was sure to win the point, Mannarino produced a phenomenal reverse flick-shot.

“What a trickeration,” said the commentator.

“And the wizardry of Adrian Mannarino has firmly come to the party.

Frenchman Adrian Mannarino pulled off some “wizardry” in his match against Novak Djokovic. Pic: TennisTV
Frenchman Adrian Mannarino pulled off some “wizardry” in his match against Novak Djokovic. Pic: TennisTV

“What a special shot that was.”

The 30-year-old went on to win the point, but Djokovic won the battle to progress in the tournament.

The world number ten went on to beat Adrian Mannarino and reach the third round on Wednesday as the women’s title holder Garbine Muguruza crashed out.

Wimbledon champion Djokovic called for the doctor during the second set against Mannarino but put aside his discomfort to progress 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 over the Frenchman before rain halted afternoon play.

“I wasn’t feeling well, I didn’t have a great night and wasn’t feeling that well for the first set and a half,” said Djokovic, who has won every Masters 1000 title except Cincinnati.

“I kind of made it through, and with the help of the doctor and God…I’m just, you know, happy that I managed to overcome the challenge.

“Credit to him playing well the first set, but I wasn’t myself.”

Seventh-seeded Muguruza played for the first time since crashing out in the second round of her Wimbledon title defense, falling 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Lesia Tsurenko.

“It was a very ugly match, but I’m happy that I fought, even if the level wasn’t very high,” said Muguruza, who got a late start to her hardcourt buildup to the US Open because of an arm injury.

“At the end she managed to come back in the third set and play better and found a way to win the match.

“I’m happy I didn’t feel (arm) pain. Obviously I didn’t have a lot of practices to try to recover, so I had to manage a little bit.”

Women’s seventh-seed Garbine Muguruza crashed out of the Cincinnati Masters with a loss to Lesia Tsurenko. Pic: Getty
Women’s seventh-seed Garbine Muguruza crashed out of the Cincinnati Masters with a loss to Lesia Tsurenko. Pic: Getty

Marin Cilic, the 2016 men’s champion, beat Romanian Marius Copil 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, but third-seeded Alexander Zverev was upset 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 by Dutch veteran Robin Haase.

The German remains winless in four appearances at the pre-US Open tournament. His early exit comes a week after he lost in the Toronto quarter-finals to fellow youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The 55th-ranked Haase clinched a surprise victory when Zverev fired a return long after losing serve six times.

“I think I played well. Today my returns I think were really, really good,” Haase said.

“The first serve he hit at me was 136 (mph), and I just hit it right back. I was good from my side.

“Nowadays against top 10, 20, maybe top 50 you have to be a little bit lucky.”

Zverev came into the event leading the ATP with 43 match wins this season, while it was a seventh career win over a top 10 player for Haase.

Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson beat Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 while Canadian Milos Raonic advanced over Malek Jaziri of Tunisia 6-3, 7-5.

Belgian 11th seed David Goffin eliminated France’s Benoit Paire 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

with AFP.