Fifth set king Adrian Mannarino strikes again in ousting 2014 Aussie Open champ Wawrinka

On Monday, Adrian Mannarino rose to a career-high No. 19 ranking before taking the court for his first-round match at the Australian Open.

By the end of his duel with 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, the No. 20 seed came out on the winning end of yet another grueling Grand Slam battle.

Facing off on Kia Arena, Mannarino surged late to eliminate the decorated champion, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0. The Frenchman saved two break points before closing out the fourth set, then slammed the door shut by dropping just eight points in the deciding set.

"That was pretty intense. The conditions were not easy," Mannarino told press afterwards.

"I probably got lucky a little bit in the fourth set. I got broken. I felt like he was in control, and we had the new balls, and I started to return a little bit better. Then suddenly it switched a little bit."

With the victory, Mannarino is now an incredible 12-3 in five-set matches. Of the lot, the left-hander has claimed seven of the eight that have taken place in the first round of majors.

Having closed out 2023 by winning a career-high three titles in a single season, Mannarino’s 2024 began at the United Cup with three defeats from four contests against higher-ranked competition (Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz). The 35-year-old is looking to reach the second week at Melbourne Park for the second time in three years and could meet 16th seed Ben Shelton if both come through their respective second-round matchups.

Wawrinka first appeared at the Australian Open 20 years ago when he attempted to qualify at a Grand Slam event for the first time in a losing effort. Ten years later, the Swiss celebrated his first of three major titles when he defeated Rafael Nadal.

The future International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, who will turn 39 in March, last reached the second week of a major four years ago when he advanced to the quarterfinals Down Under.

"Tt was a bit tough at the end. Couldn't really push myself more," reflected Wawrinka. "I didn't do the work I wanted in the off-season because I got injured in the last tournament. So it was a race a bit to come back here.

"But I'm quite happy with the ten days I had here. I had some good practice. Today was a good level in general. I'm just sad with the result, but it is what it is."