Adrian Mannarino, 78th in the world, won his ticket for the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 tournament in Atlanta, beating the American Andres Martin (736th), 7-5, 6-3 on the night of Thursday to Friday.
The 34-year-old Frenchman had benefited from the singles package of Australian Nick Kyrgios, hampered by knee pain, to integrate the main draw.
Martin, invited by the organizers and who was playing his first ATP tournament, had knocked down Kyrgios’ doubles partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis (69th) in the previous round. Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are still engaged in the doubles tournament. They will face in the semi-final an American pair, either that of Rajeev Ram/Jack Sock or that of Steve Johnson/Tommy Paul.
Mannarino will challenge him this Friday the Australian Alex de Minaur, 30th in the world and seeded N.3, to try to reach his second semi-final this year following S-Hertogenbosch in June.