Mannarino reflects on physical decline after Shanghai exit at 38
Adrian Mannarino lost to Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-4 in the Shanghai third round after earlier beating world No. 7 Flavio Cobolli. At 38, Mannarino told L'Équipe that accepting he will never again be as fast or durable is like a small death for a tennis player. He also rejected the suggestion that he should train less at his age.
Mannarino, ranked No. 83, entered Shanghai as one of the last direct acceptances. He advanced when Nikoloz Basilashvili retired with a left knee issue, then upset sixth-seeded Flavio Cobolli, world No. 7, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours 26 minutes. Karen Khachanov, seeded 26th, then beat him 6-2, 6-4 and will next meet Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
The 38-year-old Frenchman has five ATP titles. He reached a career-high No. 17 in January 2024, ended 2024 at No. 66 and 2025 at No. 69, began 2026 at No. 68, rose to No. 40 after finishing runner-up in Montpellier to Félix Auger-Aliassime, and has since fallen to the low 80s.
Mannarino’s reflections may resonate beyond tennis, offering a visible example of how aging professionals confront declining physical capacity while still competing. Fans and older athletes could see familiar tensions between acceptance and maintaining intensity. His rejection of reduced training may spark discussion about how society views aging, effort, and adaptation, though it remains one athlete’s perspective rather than a universal prescription.