Mannarino faces a challenge he was never able to fulfill in his career

Fernando Murciego | 7 Feb 2026 | 20.50

Mannarino, faced with a challenge he could never fulfill in his career. Source: Getty

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In the season where we will see him turn 38, Adrian Mannarino is close to achieving one of those goals that directly touch the emotional side. Tomorrow, at the ATP de Montpellier, he will play the first final of his career on French soil.

It's unusual considering the profile that Adrian Mannarino represents and considering the number of tournaments that have always been played in France. And yet, the one from Soisy-sous-Montmorency has never been able to go as far in a tournament at home as he has this week at the ATP 250 de Montpellier. Don't think that he was given this, especially at this age. Mannarino had to win four matches, the last three coming back from a set down, so we will see in what physical condition he arrives tomorrow. The important thing today was to overcome Martin Damm, a goal he achieved without really knowing how.

"I finish this match very happy, but also completely exhausted," acknowledged the Frenchman on TennisTV. "These types of matches are a double-edged sword. I think he started very well, putting a lot of pressure on me from the very beginning, both with his serve and his return. It was an incredible performance on his part, but still I tried to bring out the best in me, trying to take advantage of the small opportunities that arose in the second set until I did. Then in the third set, we had the same scenario, it was a crazy match that finally fell on my side, so I can only be happy," he valued after the scoreline of 1-6, 6-3, and 6-4.

But what did Mannarino change from the second set onwards? "I tried to be a little more focused with my serve, but I insist that I couldn't do much more in the previous games either. I felt that he was returning incredibly well, both on my first and second serves, so I didn't really know what I could do or how I could improve. I would say that my serving percentages were too low, so little by little, I improved and raised those percentages until reaching 4-3, where he had a couple of slightly weaker service games. Without that happening, it's likely I wouldn't have had any chance to break him," stated the current World No. 70.

Now he faces a major challenge, the biggest he has encountered this week. The reigning champion, Felix Auger-Aliassime, awaits him this Sunday, although Mannarino prefers to focus on himself. After 15 finals in his extensive career, the 16th will be the first one he plays at home. "It's a very special final, of course. Playing in these conditions, after struggling so hard to come back and finish this match, suffering a lot inside, but with the whole crowd and the present audience cheering you on from the start. The feeling is fantastic, there is nothing comparable to this, so a part of this victory I owe to them," he acknowledged in front of a crowd that kept cheering him on.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, Going for the Last Frenchman in Montpellier

On the other hand, perhaps Felix Auger-Aliassime arrived too relaxed for this meeting after defeating Stan Wawrinka and Arthur Fils. The test this afternoon seemed easier than the previous ones, but it was precisely Titouan Droguet who managed to give him more trouble. He pushed him to a third set, but there the Canadian prevailed clearly (6-4, 6-7, 6-1). After leaving two local tennis players out in the cold, Aliassime knows that he arrives with the ideal momentum to repeat with a third and defend his title in Montpellier.

Felix Auger-Aliassime seeks to defend his title in Montpellier. Source: Getty

"I love it, I really enjoy this kind of situation, I always prefer something like this to a stadium where there is no atmosphere, with people who are not involved or who never really connect with the match," noted the ATP No. 8 when asked if he was starting to enjoy defeating local players this week. Tomorrow, starting at 3:00 in the afternoon, we will discover to what extent he has it under control.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mannarino, ante un reto que nunca pudo cumplir en su carrera