Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, 25th in the world, won the fifth title of his career this Saturday, the third this season, by beating Briton Jack Draper in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Sofia in three sets, 7-6 (8/6) , 2-6, 6-3.
The Ile-de-France resident, who is experiencing his most prolific season at 35, will however have to wait to find out if he obtains the best ranking of his career, and thereby becomes French number one again: he is guaranteed to reach at least 22nd. world rank, as in March 2018, but could still scrape a place if his compatriot Ugo Humbert (21st) loses in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Metz, also this Saturday.
The fifth of his career
Facing Draper, 21 years old and modest 82nd in the ATP rankings, Adrian Mannarino was strong enough in the first round to win in the deciding game. But the Frenchman then experienced a big gap in the second set. Visibly annoyed, he quickly gave in 6-2, before recovering in the decisive round.
After making the break, he had the opportunity to conclude with his throw-in, at 5-3. The Frenchman, however, had to put aside two break points, before winning with a forehand that was too long from the Briton, in 2h15.
Earlier this season, Mannarino had already won the tournaments in Astana and Newport (United States). In 2019, he won his first tournament on the main circuit in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, on grass, before winning the hard court in Winston-Salem, in the United States, last year.