Lukas Rosol and Adrian Mannarino faced off in the first round at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open for the third time in their career. Both players shared one win each coming into this match. But this time, it was Mannarino came through 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in just over two hours.
Number of breaks determines the opening set; goes the way of Rosol
With the match underway and having held for a 1-0 lead, Mannarino immediately found himself with break point chances, but Rosol rallied and took the game to level at 1-1. In the next game the 30-year-old Czech had break points of his own and took advantage as Mannarino hit a forehand shot into the net. After the change of ends, the Frenchman came out firing and suddenly had break point chances at 30-40, 1-2, which was taken as his opponent, overhit a forehand shot. In the next game, the break point chances came once more; this time for Rosol, but the 27-year old battled on and saved 3 points as he sneaked ahead in the opening set 2-3. Both players held their next service game comfortably.
At 4-4 in the opening set, Rosol had even more break point chances at 40-0 and jumped at the chance to break and serve for the set in his next service game. The break points didn't end there as more came and went with Rosol close to surrendering the lead, but just like earlier in the set, he saved break points and battled his way through to win the set 6-4 against a determined Mannarino.
Mannarino battles on despite losing opening set
The second set started the same way as the first for the Frenchman, holding his serve and getting the set underway. At this point in the match, Mannarino seemed to be upset about something Rosol was doing down the other end as he had a word with the chair umpire. Rosol, however, kept his focus on the game and held as the set continued on serve. In his next service game, Mannarino held serve to keep his nose in front. The first break point of the set came about at 2-3 on the Rosol serve, but he managed to hit a splendid forehand shot cross court, which prompt Mannarino to scream in frustration down the other end. The Czech won the next two points and held to keep up with his French opposition.
With the set boiling up nicely, Mannarino continued to be frustrated by his 6 foot, 5 inch Czech opponent as Rosol carved up break point chances. After losing that point, the French number seven slammed his racket on the floor and got a warning from the umpire for his troubles. He did, however, manage to save break point by smashing an ace down the line. The French lefty found the breakthrough in the set as he forced Rosol to make an error and surrender. Mannarino won the set 6-3 by hitting a forehand winner, to the frustration of the Czech.
Mannarino fights off a number of break points to seal the match
With the match level at one set apiece, the momentum seemed to be with the Frenchman as he broke quickly to give himself the best possible start to the deciding set. In the next game, he almost gave back the break, but saved two massive points by hitting an ace and went 2-0 up in the set. In the following game, Mannarino had his chance to be within just three games of the match, but Rosol dug in and managed to stop any more momentum shifting in full favor of the French lefty as he got on the board in the set. Mannarino then held to give him a 3-1 lead. Both players held until the eighth game of the final set, when Rosol had even more chances to bring the match back to level, but as he has done all match, Mannarino found that extra bit of motivation and stopped Rosol from getting back into the set.
With the match coming to a close, Mannarino had three chances to seal the match, but he failed to convert any as Rosol fought tooth and nail. The Frenchman quickly got off to a great start on his serve, giving himself three chances to possibly serve it out. On his first match point, his opponent won with some brilliant net play, but ultimately he would serve it out giving him the win and a place in the second round of Indian Wells.
Match statistics
Adrian Mannarino won 74 percent behind his first serve and only 53 percent on his second. The Frenchman saved an impressive 77 percent of break points and won only 23 points en route. He did go on to win 52 percent of points in the match.
Lukas Rosol won 60 percent of first serves and 59 on his second; he carved out 10 out of 13 break points giving him a 76 percent but saved 22 percent. He managed to win 47 percent of points.
Second round
Adrian Mannarino will go up against 19th seed and French compatriot Benoit Paire in the next round. Despite being only a year apart in age wise, the two have never faced each other, so this will be a first for the French number five and seven.
