Adrian Mannarino, 25th in the world, won his ticket to the semi-finals of the ATP 250 tournament in Sofia on Thursday, beating the Austrian Sebastian Ofner (44th) 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 6-3.
The Frenchman will face in the next round on Friday the winner of the match between the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics (47th) and the Russian Pavel Kotov (80th). The other semi-final will pit Briton Jack Draper (82nd) against German Jan-Lennard Struff (28th).
Facing Ofner, an opponent he had already beaten in early October in the semi-finals of the Astana tournament, before winning the event, Mannarino conceded the first set in the deciding game 6-7 (7/9).
But the French No.2 at the ATP, behind Ugo Humbert (23rd), turned the game around by winning the second set 6-4 thanks in particular to a very good return of serve, before winning the last round more easily 6-3.
Mannarino, 35, confirms his good form with two titles won since this summer (Newport, Astana), a final played in Mallorca and quarter-finals reached in Cincinnati and Stockholm.