Denis Shapovalov gets revenge on Mannarino after awkward Cincinnati body-shot exchange

Friday, 14 August 2026 at 06:30

Denis Shapovalov reached semifinals at Wimbledon 2021.

Denis Shapovalov and Adrian Mannarino produced one of the more awkward moments of the Cincinnati Open first round when the Canadian appeared to take matters into his own hands after being hit by a ball from his French opponent. Shapovalov had already taken the opening set 6-1, but Mannarino had responded strongly and led 3-0 in the second set when the first incident occurred.

There was little reason to consider Mannarino's shot illegal or particularly unusual given the circumstances. With Shapovalov positioned at the net, hitting directly at the opponent's body is a legitimate and common tactic in professional tennis. Mannarino also immediately apologized after the ball struck the Canadian, seemingly making clear that there was no intention behind the incident.

Shapovalov, however, made it clear that he was unhappy with what had happened. The Canadian appeared visibly frustrated by the exchange, even though Mannarino had apologized immediately. At that stage, the Frenchman had completely reversed the momentum of the match and was leading 3-0 in the second set after losing the opening set 6-1.

A few games later, the tension resurfaced. Mannarino was leading 3-1 in the second set when he moved closer to the net, and Shapovalov sent the ball directly toward his opponent's body, seemingly returning the favor. This time, however, Mannarino's reaction was notably different, adding another layer to an already tense encounter.

Feel like any pro would confirm that this was a completely valid shot selection from Mannarino, given the circumstances.

He apologized immediately, too. Yet Shapovalov made sure everyone knew he wasn’t happy with it…

🫠🫠🫠 pic.twitter.com/Gssdggzuph
— Tennis Masterr (@tennismasterr) August 13, 2026

Shapovalov completes comeback after heated exchange

The exchange ultimately became a footnote to a remarkable turnaround from Shapovalov. Despite losing three straight games to begin the second set, the Canadian recovered his composure and completely changed the momentum of the match, winning five consecutive games to turn a 1-3 deficit into a 6-4 second-set victory.

Shapovalov closed out the match 6-1, 6-4, advancing to the second round after a contest that appeared to be slipping away from him early in the second set. Mannarino had managed to put himself in a strong position after the opening-set loss, but the Frenchman's advantage disappeared once Shapovalov found his rhythm again.

Shapovalov immediately gets his revenge.

Different reaction from Mannarino, though.

🌶️😬 pic.twitter.com/OBG3di4mwP https://t.co/O1zxQUKxiB
— Tennis Masterr (@tennismasterr) August 13, 2026

The victory sets up an intriguing second-round clash with 12th seed Rafael Jodar, one of the most promising young players on the ATP Tour. The Spaniard arrives in Cincinnati with considerable momentum following his recent breakthrough results on hard courts, making the matchup a significantly tougher test for Shapovalov.

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For the Canadian, the comeback provides an important confidence boost at a crucial stage of the North American hard-court swing. After overcoming Mannarino and an increasingly tense second set, Shapovalov will now look to carry that momentum into his meeting with inspired Rafael Jodar, 12th seed and recent Canadian Open semifinalist.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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