by Ben Shelton won his first career victory against Gritty Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on Wednesday and scored a 6-2, 6: 3 victory to achieve a place in the third round at the ATP Toronto Masters.
The American fourth seed came to court with two defeats against the 37-year qualification game Mannarino, but said that he could vary his serve to get over the line to get a welcome first victory in the series.
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“This victory was huge for me. He is a bullet maker, he can take the racket out of his hands,” said Shelton after his 56-minute victory.
“I played well against him in the past and happened briefly, he can make things really difficult.”
Shelton broke twice to raise the opening set and drove to a 5-3 lead in the second edge.
He had to come past a niggle, celebrated the last game twice, but saved the following break point and finally won the victory with a 16th ASS, followed by a service winner at the Match Point.
“His hands are so good,” said Shelton about Mannarino. “You have to hit your (serving) places really well. I’m glad I served well – I have nothing to complain.
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“He is one of the great returnees, so I had to vary my portions. I am satisfied with how I played.”
Andrey Rublev, who won a second place in Canada in Canada with Alexei Popyrin, won his 250th career game for Hardcourt when he defeated France’s Hugo Gaston 6-2, 6: 3.
The sixth seed needed four match points to advance after 86 minutes.
He is now playing Italian Lorenzo Songo, a 6: 1, 6: 4 winner about China’s Bu Yunchchaokete.
The Wimbledon quarter-finalist Flavio Cobolli from Italy delivered four aces in the last game of a rain interest game to win a 6-4, 5-7, 6: 4 victory over the Canadian Alexis Galarneau.
But the Canadian Gabriele Diallo came to his Italian opponent and hit Matteo Gigante 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
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