Adrian Mannarino produced a gritty comeback to edge past American Tommy Paul 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the Cincinnati Masters’ round of 16 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on Monday night. The win capped a standout day for French tennis, coming on the heels of Bonzi’s victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Atmane’s win against Fonseca.
The French qualifier, 37-year-old Mannarino, is ranked No. 89 and will face Italian top seed Jannik Sinner next after Sinner defeated Canadian Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 7-6(6). The matchup pits Mannarino’s veteran savvy against Sinner’s relentless top-level attack.
Mannarino has now claimed two wins over top-20 opponents this week, including beating Paul earlier this season at the Rolex Paris Masters. He also knocked off Tomas Machac (6-3, 6-3) and Jordan Thompson (6-2, 6-2) in the Cincinnati run. It marks the first time in two years that Mannarino has won three Masters 1000 matches in a single event, and it ties for his best Cincinnati result since reaching the quarterfinals in 2023.
Age and all: Mannarino became the second-oldest qualifier to reach the round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event since the format began in 1990, at 37 years and 39 days, with Radek Stepanek being the oldest. Alongside him, Bonzi and Atmane also advanced as unseeded Frenchmen into the last 16, underscoring a strong French showing in Cincinnati.
In the previous round, Paul, who is among the Paris Masters contenders, defeated Pedro Martínez Portero 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round.
What it means: Mannarino will now face Sinner, a tough test but an exciting opportunity to back up a richly seasoned late-career surge with more big-match experience. The moment illustrates the depth of French tennis this summer and offers a hopeful sign for fans as teenagers and veterans alike push for strong results on the U.S. hard courts.
Summary: Adrian Mannarino’s three-set win over Tommy Paul advances him to the Cincinnati Masters round of 16, setting up a marquee clash with Jannik Sinner. The result continues a memorable day for French players and highlights Mannarino’s continued resilience and longevity on the tour.