Alex de Minaur warmed up for Wimbledon in emphatic fashion, defeating France's Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3 in a final exhibition match at the All England Club on Thursday. The Australian world No. 9 needed just 72 minutes to dispatch the 35-year-old left-hander, showcasing the form that has made him a dark horse for the grass-court Grand Slam.
Dominant performance on grass
De Minaur broke Mannarino's serve three times and faced only one break point himself, which he saved with a confident forehand winner. His movement on the slick surface was particularly impressive, as he tracked down drop shots and turned defence into attack with his trademark speed. The 25-year-old Australian won 81% of his first-serve points and hit 22 winners, including seven aces.
“It was a good test against a tricky opponent who has a very unorthodox style,” de Minaur said after the match. “I felt my timing was good and I was reading his serve well. It's exactly the kind of match I needed before Wimbledon starts.”
Preparation for Wimbledon
The victory comes after de Minaur reached the quarter-finals at Queen's Club last week, where he lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in three sets. That run included a win over former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, further underlining his grass-court credentials.
De Minaur is seeded ninth at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday. He will face a qualifier in the first round and is projected to meet 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini in the third round. His best result at the All England Club came in 2022 when he reached the fourth round.
Mannarino's struggles continue
For Mannarino, the loss extends a difficult run on grass this season. The Frenchman, ranked 54th, has now lost his last four matches on the surface, including first-round exits at Stuttgart and Queen's Club. He will look to turn his form around when Wimbledon begins, where he faces American Marcos Giron in the first round.
The exhibition match was part of a traditional warm-up day at Wimbledon, where several top players played short matches on Centre Court and No. 1 Court to acclimatise to the grass. Defending champion Novak Djokovic also took part, beating local junior player Henry Searle 6-3, 6-2.
