Mannarino's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy ahead of Djokovic clash

Adrian Mannarino needs to get ready for one of the biggest matches of his life at the Australian Open Sunday. He just doesn’t know it yet.

The 35-year-old, who is in the best form of his career and at a high of No. 17 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, is set to face World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. But true to form, the left-hander who plays with one of the loosest string tensions on tour, has no interest in identifying his fourth-round opponent earlier than necessary.

As he walked over for his on-court interview soon after defeating Ben Shelton in a third-round five-set thriller Friday night, Mannarino asked the on-court interviewer not to reveal whom he would face next. Before his post-match press conference, the moderator conveyed to media Mannarino’s wishes not to ask about his coming opponent.

Just two years ago Mannarino also found himself facing an all-time great in the Australian Open fourth round, Rafael Nadal, but insisted on not knowing. 

Not wanting to know your next opponent within a reasonable time frame is not unique on tour, but Mannarino’s approach – often waiting until one hour before match time – is believed to be the most extreme in the game.

Asked if there were times that his approach was a disadvantage, such as when he plays a left-hander like Shelton or a hard-charging serve-and-volleyer like Maxime Cressy, Mannarino said unequivocally no.

“I don't think I need to prepare special for these kind of matches,” Mannarino told ATPTour.com. “Many players like to play with lefty before playing a lefty, practising with a righty before playing a righty. I just think that's bulls*%!

“This is one of the reasons why I'm struggling to find partners because people, they're really, really intense in their preparation. They want everything to be perfect. For me, doesn't really matter.

“Yesterday I was just too tired. I've been playing like 15 minutes with my coach. I said, ‘No, I don't want nothing more, I've been playing enough tennis the last few days’.” 

SCENES on Kia Arena 🤩

After four hours and 46 minutes, @AdrianMannarino finds a way against Ben Shelton 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4 to equal his best Grand Slam result.@AustralianOpen | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Z1OblGV0ew

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 19, 2024

Remaining blissfully unaware of his next opponent can be tricky. You never know what innocuous happening or comment may reveal the next match-up.

“I always try to keep it as long as I can because I just don't want to think too much,” Mannarino said. “But let's say on average it's about an hour before. Today I was just at the restaurant checking on which court my friends Mahut and Roger-Vasselin were playing. Actually watching the screen, I saw my match. I was like, ‘Wow, now I know’.

“It's always different, the different situation. Yesterday my driver who drove me in the morning just wanted to be nice and say good luck against Mr. Munar. I don't need to know.”

While Djokovic leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 4-0 and will start a strong favourite in the match, things may get interesting if Mannarino takes the match to his fourth consecutive five-setter at this year’s Open. The five-time ATP Tour champion has won 11 straight five-set matches, last losing one at the 2015 US Open to Andy Murray.