Tennis sensation Adrian Mannarino left the crowd gasping and then erupting into cheers when he successfully hit a mid-air, between-the-legs shot in the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday.
Mannarino beat Hungarian Fábián Marozsán somewhat comfortably in a four-set match: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. The 35-year-old Frenchman is two-for-two in the U.S. Open and looking to keep up his consistent run of form as he faces American Frances Tiafoe in his next match Friday.
WHAT DID ADRIAN MANNARINO JUST DO!? pic.twitter.com/dhOaF8Iew9
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2023
Mannarino was looking to end the match in the fourth set, which he did in spectacular style.
Leading 2-1 in the fourth with a game point, Mannarino pulled off the impossible. He served, but Marozsán hit a near-perfect return. The world No. 35 sprinted to chase down the return, only to loft it perfectly for Marozsán to put away, which the Hungarian attempted to do. (RELATED: Tennis Player Books It To Bathroom Mid-Point As Illnesses Plague US Open Competitors)
Mannarino, seeing all of this unfold before him, dashed to the other side of the court where he apparently thought the ball would go. And he guessed perfectly — too perfectly, in fact, because the tennis ball went straight for his body.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Mannarino jumped and hit the ball in between his airborne legs. He was able to place the ball just within reach of Marozsán, who merely blocked the ball back onto Mannarino’s side of the court, at which point Mannarino dispatched the ball for a clean winner.
Then, euphoria. The crowd went wild.
Mannarino has won three singles titles in his career but has yet to win a Grand Slam. There is a first time for everything, though — even high-flying trick shots.