The first semifinal of the ATP Montpellier delivered an incredible battle, as experienced Frenchman Adrian Manarino overcame the explosive American Martin Damm in a dramatic three-set encounter.
After being completely outplayed in the opening set, Manarino showed remarkable composure, adjusted his game, and used his experience to secure a hard-fought victory and book his place in the final.
Damm Dismantles Manarino in a One-Sided First Set
The opening set was a complete demolition by Martin Damm. The American played fearless, aggressive tennis and gave Manarino no room to breathe.
The numbers tell the story:
- Winners: 16 for Damm, only 3 for Manarino
- Aces: 6 for Damm, 2 for Manarino
Damm created two break points, converted both, and raced through the set 6–1. Manarino, meanwhile, did not earn a single break opportunity and struggled to find any rhythm.
Manarino Responds with Stability in the Second Set
The second set saw a completely different Manarino. He stabilized his game, improved his serve, and relied on consistency rather than power.
Up to 4–3 in Manarino’s favor, both players held serve comfortably, without facing a single break point. At that moment, Manarino stepped up on Damm’s serve, earned his first break point of the match, and converted it.
He then held his serve with ease to take the set and level the match at 1–1.
Although Damm once again hit slightly more winners, he also committed three times as many unforced errors, which ultimately decided the set in Manarino’s favor.
Early Break and Mental Strength Decide the Final Set
In the decisive third set, Manarino struck immediately. He attacked Damm’s serve early, secured a break, and confirmed it to take a 2–0 lead.
That proved to be the turning point. While Damm continued to serve well, Manarino showed his experience by protecting his own service games without hesitation.
Damm’s final chance came in the 10th game, when he earned two break points at 5–4 in Manarino’s favor. However, the Frenchman stayed calm, saved both chances, and closed out the match to the delight of the home crowd.
Manarino Reaches the Final
With this impressive comeback victory, Adrian Manarino advanced to the final of the ATP Montpellier, once again proving the value of experience in high-pressure matches.
Despite the loss, Martin Damm’s performance throughout the tournament remains one of the standout stories of the week.
The winner advanced to the final, where the title was decided —
👉 ATP Montpellier final recap
