The French number one is definitely struggling at Bercy. For the eighth time in his career, Adrian Mannarino was eliminated in the first round of the Masters 1000 in Paris. Monday, on the central court, the 25th in the world lost in two sets to the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (6-4, 7-5). The French leader, 35, overcome by nervousness, made too many unforced errors (14). In a balanced first set, it was the 28-year-old Dutchman, inspired in return, who made the difference and won the first set on the Frenchman’s serve 6-4.
In the second round, Mannarino, who won the fourth title of his career in Astana at the beginning of October, played on alternating current. Badly off to a good start, he experienced a first start, erasing a break that he had just conceded. He gave up his throw again at 4-3, after yet another poorly executed service game, giving his service opponent the opportunity to win the match. So the Bercy crowd pushed, Mannarino encouraged himself, which allowed him to regain the break he had just conceded, and everyone wanted to believe in the first great French story of the week. But the French left-hander lacked too much accuracy and serenity, as evidenced by this smashed racket at the end of the second round, to hope for another result, despite four break points at 5-5. He lost after yet another direct error in the net, on his serve, leaving his opponent to conclude 7-5 in 1 hour 58 minutes.
The Dutchman will therefore be in the second round and could find another Frenchman there, Richard Gasquet (68th), opposed to the American Tommy Paul (12th) in the evening. Another Frenchman, Luca Van Assche (69th), fell to the Serbian Laslo Djere (34th), winner 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4. Despite winning the first round, the young French hope, 19 years old, looking for his first victory in Masters 1000, fell against stronger and more experienced than him. In the second round, the Serbian will face the Russian Karen Khachanov (15th), winner in 2018 at Bercy and earlier in the day the Australian Max Purcell (43rd) 6-4, 6-4.