Novak Djokovic has just founded the controversial Professional Tennis Player Association and he once again showed that he really means helping his fellow players.
The Mannarino’s case
Adrian was in close contact with Benoit Paire that tested positive to the Coronavirus and he was sidelined in his room to quarantine. Unfortunately, the other players that were “exposed” to Benoit Paire were put in a “bubble in a bubble” to suffer from heavy restrictions.
A little drama happened on the occasion of Adrian Mannarino’s match on Friday as the Frenchman was scheduled to play against Sascha Zverev. Adrian was part of the contingent of the players that were in close contact with Benoit Paire and while he had the go-ahead to play from the mayor of New York on Sunday, the state department of health revoke the permission. Eventually, after a lot of back and forth, Adrian was allowed to play. Here Mannarino’s explanation:
“I was preparing to go on court at 2.30pm. The tour manager came to talk to me and explained the situation that the state department of health took over the city. The city allowed me to play on Sunday but the state took over this decision to say that I’ve been exposed to a positive case so I should be quarantined in my room and not be able to go on the court and play my match today.
They told me they were trying to contact some guys and see if this decision could be changed. Obviously a lot of effort has been done, they pushed the match back – Sascha agreed which is nice. They told me they would look at the situation try to see if we could get on court today. Obviously they did. Many things have happened in this time. I was just trying to get ready.
I gave my coach my phone and just said try and see what’s going on, I’ll let you handle these things, I’m just trying to focus and be prepared as if I’m going on court at 5. If I’m in a position to be able to play, I just want to be ready. I’m thankful to all these people who have been trying to get me on court today. Around 4.30pm I heard that I have been allowed to go on court. Unfortunately, I lost the match but I’m happy I was on court.”
Djokovic intervention
During the interview that followed his successful match against Jan-Lennard Struff, Djokovic explained that he wanted to help Mannarino trying to get in touch personally with the Governor of the State of New York.
“I was aware of what was happening and I was actually contacted by his coach during that process. I was communicating with his coach for a few hours and trying to help, speaking to the ATP,” said Novak.
“I was also trying to get to the people that are in the highest positions in New York state, trying to get to the governor of New York because I understood he was the only one who could revert the decision.
In the end, I don’t know what happened apart from he could play which I was pleased to see. Unfortunately, it’s not in many cases up to ATP and USTA to make these decisions and make these calls.
We knew that coming into the States, there was a high probability situation like this could occur. I’m not happy these kinds of circumstances with the French players was managed.
I’m not happy to see Delien and Pella were in a very similar situation and had to be withdrawn from the tournament. Benoit was positive, we don’t even know if it was a false positive – there are quite a lot of false-positive tests in sport I’ve been hearing,” he added.
Djokovic at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2020
Currently ranked no.1, Novak has a 26-0 win-loss record in 2020. Novak is now competing at the U.S. Open where he toppled Damir Dzumhur 6-1 6-4 6-1, Kyle Edmund 6-75 6-3 6-4 6-2 and Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3 6-3 6-1.
Novak Djokovic will fight against Carreno-Busta in the 4th round. The head to head is 3-0 for Djokovic.
Djokovic has won 3 titles in 2020 at the Australian Open, in Dubai and in New York.
The Serbian won 80 titles in his career: 48 on hard courts, 14 on clay courts, 12 on indoor courts and 6 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Adrian Mannarino in 2020
Now the world no.39, the French player played his last match on the 4th of September when he was defeated by Alexander Zverev 6-74 6-4 6-2 6-2 in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open.
This season Mannarino has a 9-9 win-loss record. Mannarino has won 1 title in the Monterrey Challenger.
Novak Djokovic and Adrian Mannarino played each other 4 times. The head to head is 4-0 for Djokovic. The last time that they locked horns, Novak Djokovic won 4-6 6-2 6-1 in the 2nd round in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open) in August 2018.
Zverev at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2020
Now ranked no.7, Alexander has a 9-6 win-loss record in 2020. The German is at the U.S. Open where he toppled Kevin Anderson 7-62 5-7 6-3 7-5, Brandon Nakashima 7-5 6-78 6-3 6-1 and Adrian Mannarino 6-74 6-4 6-2 6-2.
Alexander Zverev will come up against Davidovich Fokina in the 4th round. They have never face off so far in top events.
The German won 11 titles in his career: 3 on hard courts, 5 on clay courts and 3 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Novak Djokovic, Adrian Mannarino |
| Embed from Getty Images |
