Adrian Mannarino played second three set match in the tournament to become the first semifinalist at 2020 Sofia Open. The Nur-Sultan runner-up hit seven aces to zero of his opponent to defeat Radu Albot 6:2,1:6, 6:3 two hours and a minute. The French lefty, seeded №5, had stayed almost six hours on the court of Arena Armeec so far.
Mannarino is one of the only four players that never missed a Sofia Open edition.
Here is what he said after his third match in Sofia this year:
For 2020 Sofia Open:
„I am feeling ok. It has been a long year, even we didn’t have so many tournaments to play, and we all have been practicing a lot to stay in shape. It is mid-November now and all the players are feeling exhausted. I am still motivated for even maybe more. I am happy with the result. So I will just try to keep going on this way.”
For his win today:
I started well. And then, in the beginning of the second set I had a break point. In the first game that I lost my serve with one or two opportunities to win it. I think at this point I made an ace, but the lineman said it was out. Unfortunately we didn’t have the “hawk eye” here. And then he broke me and I had a break point to come back, but I didn’t make it. It was 3-0 for him, but it could be 3-0 for me. I lost 6:1, but I was close. I was not like such a big difference from the first set. And same thing in the third set. We both had some occasions. I am happy that I was able to close the match. That was a really open match. I have been practicing with him many times I knew that he is a really good guy. It is just like little details. Maybe I was a little bit more lucky today.”
For 2020 season
“I think my game improved a lot since last year. I started with no so many good results but I have always losing to really good players. I had a lot of occasions to win some good matches like against Monfils, Dimitrov, Careno-Busta. I was losing really close. But my tennis was good. Unfortunately we had the lockdown and we’ve been out of tournaments for a while. Then we started to play again. I was playing decent level of tennis, I played well at the US. And I got injured when I came back to play on clay. So five-six weeks I could not play tennis. And I am still struggling with this injury. I think, when I am healthy and I can play 100 per cent without thinking about any injury, I think I am playing well. And lately I got some good results. I lost twice to Alexander [Zverev] in three sets. I am just playing ok. It is just a matter of time, hopefully, off-season will help me to get healthy and improve my game a little bit more. I am really looking for the next season.
For being one of the only four players that never missed an edition of Sofia Open:
“The first time when I came to play here, I fell on the quarter-final. I felt that the conditions were good for me. The organization of the tournament was good too, so every time I saw a good occasion for me I would be happy to be here. I never knew that I have never missed an edition here, but I like spending my time here in Sofia. This year is a little bit special. We don’t have the chance to enjoy the city of Sofia, but still I am happy with the organization. It is a good hotel, good food, and good quality of the facilities here. There is nothing I can complaint about. It is a good sign for you, guys (the organizers), that I keep going here every year.”
About Jannek Sinner:
Everybody is thinking the same about Jannek. He is really talented. He is really matured for his age. That is obvious that he is going to be in the next few years in Top 10. It is just a matter of time. He is really talented, he is good, and he is tall. He has a good staff around him. I think all the pieces are matching together for him to become a really, really good player. I don’t know about Top 5, but I think it is nothing crazy to say that he is going to be in Top 10.”
