Adrian Mannarino exited the ATP 250 tournament in Chengdu on Sunday, September 27, 2026, falling in a grueling three-set quarterfinal battle to Denis Shapovalov 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 after two hours and thirty-three minutes of play in China.
A Familiar Rivalry and a Hard-Fought First Set
Entering the match as the world number 78, Mannarino faced an uphill battle against the 50th-ranked Shapovalov. Records show the Canadian had already claimed three victories in their four previous encounters, including a win last month at Cincinnati where the Canadian dropped just five games. This time, the Frenchman—affectionately known as “Manna”—offered far sterner resistance in the opening frame.
The first set unfolded without a single break point conceded by either player. Shapovalov built a 4-1 lead in the subsequent tie-break, but Mannarino clawed his way back, sweeping the final three points to secure the opening frame 8-6 in the tie-break.
Shapovalov Responds as Physical Fatigue Takes Over
The momentum shifted immediately as the second set got underway. Shapovalov regrouped, broke the Frenchman’s serve straight away, and pressed his advantage to 3-1 and later 4-2. The Canadian claimed another break at 5-3 to level the match at one set apiece, weathering an erratic serving display that featured 14 aces alongside 9 double faults while keeping Mannarino from earning a single break point during the encounter.
In the decisive third set, Mannarino held firm up to 2-2 before physical fatigue finally caught up with the 38-year-old. He dropped the final four games of the contest, handing Shapovalov the ticket to the last four.
Broader Tour Context and Next Steps
Mannarino’s defeat mirrored a tough day for the French contingent in China. Three French players contested ATP 250 quarterfinals on Sunday, but only Kyrian Jacquet advanced, securing his spot in the semifinals at Hangzhou after Alexandre Müller and Hugo Gaston also exited.
With the Chengdu run complete, Mannarino turns his attention toward Beijing. Because he will lose the ranking points earned from reaching the round of sixteen at the ATP 500 event in Beijing last year, he is projected to drop three spots in the rankings. He will travel to compete in the qualifying rounds for the capital city’s tournament, followed by scheduled appearances at the Beijing Masters 1000, the Jinan Challenger, and the ATP 250 in Almaty.
Shapovalov advances to face Hubert Hurkacz in the semifinals, after Hurkacz defeated Lloyd Harris 7-6, 6-4 after saving five break points in the first set.
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