MONTPELLIER/WASHINGTON, February 6, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
At the wise old age of 37, Adrian Mannarino has enjoyed a tremendous and memorable week at the ATP 250 Open Occitanie in southern France. After a straight-set victory against No. 77 Pedro Martinez of Spain on Monday, two days ago, the 70th-ranked lefty with the baldpate saved three match points to defeat fellow Frenchman and fifth seed Ugo Humbert in the second round.
In Friday’s quarterfinal round on Court Patrice Dominguez, inside the Sud de France Arena, Mannarino defeated 168th-ranked French wild card Arthur Gea, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, in two hours and 31 minutes to reach his 26th career ATP Tour semifinal – his first last four appearance since the Dallas Open two years ago.
Magic Mannarino
The 37-year-old fights back against Arthur Gea to make his first ATP Tour semi-final in 2 years!#OpenOccitanie26 pic.twitter.com/piRuUnoSX9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 6, 2026
Mannarino, a native of Soisy-sous-Montmorency, France, won with soft power – he put away the victory over Gea with a running forehand volley winner. Now, he’s through to his third ATP Tour semifinal on home soil, after Metz in 2008 and Nice in 2016. Mannarino is also the oldest semifinalist in tournament history, eclipsing Paul-Henri Mathieu, who was 34 when he reached the 2016 Montpellier semifinals.
In withstanding 12 aces from Gea, Mannarino won 75 percent (49 of 65) of his first-serve points, hit 20 winners and converted three of five break points, including in the final set when he broke to go ahead 3-2. Mannarino took advantage of 40 unforced errors by Gea. Total points were even at 92-all.
“I’m not surprised, I knew he could play well,” Mannario said during his on-court interview in offering props for Gea. “He’s on a roll now, he’s playing really well. I think he will keep on going.
“We both really wanted the match. In the first set, I was not really handling my emotions very well. Then, with time … I’m really happy with the result at the end.”
Two years in the making! @AdrianMannarino reaches his first semi-final since 2024 with 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 over Gea@OpenOccitanie | #OpenOccitanie26 pic.twitter.com/BcH7sdKFrP
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 6, 2026
In Saturday’s semifinal round, Mannarino, who has strung together three-straight victories after losing his first four matches of the season at all levels, will face 160th-ranked American qualifier Martin Damm, who won his fifth straight match (two in qualifying, three in the main draw) in Montpellier this week with his 6-3, 7-6 (8) victory over No. 106 Luca Nardi of Italy. Damm struck 16 aces and outpointed his opponent 74-54. He’s the fourth qualifier in tournament history to reach the semifinals.
During his post-match interview, before knowing who his semifinal opponent would be, Mannarino was asked about playing against either Damm or Nardi. Mind you, Mannarino doesn’t like to know who his opponent is until it’s time to step out on the court. He replied: “I don’t know any of them.”
Damm son
The American qualifier becomes an ATP Tour semi-finalist for the first time after beating Luca Nardi 6-3 7-6! #OpenOccitanie26 pic.twitter.com/DpbbEreIHP
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 6, 2026
Around Sud de France Arena
• Defending champion and top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada took out No. 6 seed Arthur Fils of France, 6-4, 6-2, in 68 minutes to move into Saturday’s semifinals.
The World No. 8 from Montreal, Que., hit 12 aces and dropped just two points on his first-serve, winning 93 percent (25 of 27) of those points. He faced no break points on his serve and broke Fils three times in five tries. Auger-Aliassime outpointed Fils 59-36.
Clinical from FAA
The defending champion gets the better of Arthur Fils, winning 6-4 6-2 to book his place in the #OpenOccitanie26 semi-finals pic.twitter.com/PdHsoiiqRK
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 6, 2026
In Saturday’s second semifinal match, Auger-Aliassime (9-2 lifetime in Montpellier) will face surprising 150th-ranked French qualifier Titouan Droguet, who upset No. 4 seed Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), in an hour and 46 minutes Friday night. Droguet reached the first ATP Tour-level semifinal of his young career by closing out the 29th-ranked Griekspoor with his 21st ace. He outpointed the Dutchman 82-72 in securing his second career Top-50 win.
Droguet in dreamland
7-6(5), 7-6(1) over Griekspoor sends @ladrogsJR into a first ever ATP semi-final!@OpenOccitanie | #OpenOccitanie26 pic.twitter.com/frY7ONRn5g
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 6, 2026
• In an all-French double semifinal, No. 1 seeds Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul were upset by No. 4 seeds Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti, 7-6 (1), 6-1, in 76 minutes on Court Patrice Dominguez. Arribage and Olivetti outpointed their opponents 59-42.
The other doubles semifinal, between unseeded teams Constantin Frantzen of Germany and Robin Haase of the Netherlands versus Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner, both from Germany, will take place on Saturday.
Friday’s Open Occitanie results
Saturday’s Open Occitanie order of play
By the numbers
Adrian Mannario of France has reached his 26th ATP Tour SF – his first since Dallas two years ago. It marks his third ATP Tour semifinal on home soil, after Metz in 2008 and Nice in 2016. At age 37, Mannarino becomes the oldest semifinalist in tournament history.
“Quotable …”
“I’m not that powerful, that’s for sure, so I had to adjust all the time. I’m constantly playing with my mind. It’s not easy when you’re tired and your brain is not working that well.”
– Adrian Mannarino of France, during his on-court interview after reaching his first ATP Tour semifinal in two years.
