By Erik Gudris | Sunday, March 29, 2015

For Adrian Mannarino, Miami has been a good stop on the ATP tour. For Stan Wawrinka, it's yet another early exit during the spring U.S. hard court swing.

Miami: Serena Schools Bellis in Straight Sets

Now it's the Frenchman who finds himself entering the second week of the ATP Masters event while Wawrinka can only look forward to the upcoming European clay court swing.

Mannarino, now age 26, is playing some of the best tennis of his career this season. He's achieved a career high ranking of No. 32 in the world, reached the Auckland finals, and also made it to the fourth round of Indian Wells.

The No. 28 seeded Frenchman, who had never beaten a top 10 opponent before, broke Wawrinka to open the first set. That set eventually needed a tiebreak that Mannarino won.

The same scenario enacted itself in the second set. Though the seventh seeded Wawrinka was expected to take control, Mannarino stayed right with the Swiss star. That included winning an extended rally with a fearsome winner at 5-all in the set.

With each player enjoying service breaks, the set soon reached yet another tiebreak.

Though the Miami crowd was decidedly in favor of Wawrinka, it was Mannarino who surged out to an early lead. Yet Mannarino, perhaps feeling the moment, would let his extensive lead slip till Wawrinka was only a point away from leveling the breaker at 6-all.

But Mannarino responded with a final potent serve that helped him close out the 7-6(4), 7-6(5) victory.

Next up for Mannarino is Dominic Thiem. The young Austrian defeated American Jack Sock 6-4, 6-3.