French Tennis Player Manuel Guinard Aims for Breakthrough in Adelaide

French tennis player Manuel Guinard is set to face top seed Tommy Paul in the second round of the Adelaide International on Wednesday, marking a pivotal moment in his career. The 29-year-old, currently ranked No. 261 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is aiming to reach his second ATP Tour singles quarter-final after a strong start to the 2025 season.

Guinard, who arrived in Australia on December 18 to acclimatize, lost in the final round of qualifying but entered the main draw as a lucky loser. He defeated Roman Safiullin in the first round, showcasing his determination to compete at the highest level. “I really love these kind of matches because I want to know where I am compared to these players,” Guinard told ATPTour.com. “I’ve been watching Tommy Paul on TV. I just want to know how it’s going to go, how it’s going to be, where I am, if I can compete.”

Guinard’s journey to professional tennis was unconventional. Initially aspiring to be a tennis coach due to his modest ranking as a junior, he credits financial support and mentorship for enabling him to pursue his career. “Some people helped me financially, so I could play professionally for one year, two years, three years,” he said. “Then I started to improve my level and my ranking.”

Standing at 6’6