Argentinian Mariano Navone (25 years old, 60th ATP place) qualified in the penultimate act of the Țiriac Open, after a tough battle against Slovakian Alex Molcan (28 years old, world number 189), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, in two hours and 19 minutes. It's his first ATP semifinal since Bucharest 2024.
A typical slag battle they offered Mariano Navone and Alex Molcan in a day packed with matches at the Țiriac Open, in which games were also played from the 2nd round, but also from the “quarters”, both in the singles and doubles table.
The pair exchanged fierce blows, ran, were patient, attempted short ones, pulled a lob from the kit, put in the effort and, in the end, delivered a game in which the outcome was not certain until the last ball was played – despite the scoreline that might suggest otherwise.
In the end, the winner was the Argentinian, with a better percentage of success on the first serve, with more break chances in total and with a more visible presence at the net. But the numbers are very close, 23 game-winning hits and 45 unforced errors for Molcan, 20-41 the report in Navone's case.
“It was a difficult match for me. In the first set, I made a lot of mistakes. Molcan, on the other hand, did not make any mistakes. So it was an extremely tactical and physical battle, including in the third set. In the second set, we started a bit better. We were leading 4-0, then 5-0. Then, at 5-2, things became more difficult”, Mariano described the game.
“And in the third set, I was 1-3. That's when I changed a few things in my game. I hit the ball faster. Higher. He, on the other hand, didn't have time to rest after the matches played, so I took advantage of that,” continued the Argentine.
“And then, at 4-3, I hit all the balls higher. Then I used my forehand to get some shots, and at 5-3, it was a very tense game for me and also for him. But in the end I saved the day. I beat him. So I am very happy now“, he rounded off the summary of the dispute.
Mariano Navone, again in an ATP semi-final: “Last year, at this time, I was falling in the ranking”
One that takes him two years later to a new ATP semi-final, the previous one being here, in Bucharest, then even reaching the final. What does this mean for him? “Very much. Two years of training, playing, hoping and it's not easy for usNavone said excitedly.
“We train every day to take better places, to have better situations in the tournament, to win trophies. And when you train a lot and work hard and then you don't get anything, it's difficult“, the former world number 29 confessed.
“Last year at this time, I was down in the rankings. Before Roland Garros, I was 97th. So with that ranking, it's more normal to play a challenger than an ATP tournament. So now I'm in a different situation. I'm playing better, I think. And my mentality is better,” he continued.
“Now I'm 25, not 23, 24. I have two more years of experience. For me, it is important. Tomorrow I will play a semi-final again. For me, it is really special and also a recognition“, emphasized the Argentine, who has two ATP finals in his record, both in 2024.
Mariano Navone: “I needed more confidence”
At the end of 2025, he played a few challenger tournaments in South America, precisely to improve his position in the world hierarchy. “Last year, I made that decision because I was playing well, but I hadn't won any matches before the US Open. The last matches we won on hard were in Winston-Salem. Then at the US Open and the Asian circuit, I got knocked out in the first round, in the first round, in the first round“, detailed Mariano.
“So I chose this path because I needed more confidence. I had to win some matches, play on clay again. It was a very good decision, because we won one tournament, we reached the quarterfinals in two others. So it was good for my confidence“, he assured.
He also did so after a quick exit in the Indian Wells tournament. He went to the Dominican Republic in Cap Cana for a challenger tournament and won it. “The biggest thing, I think, was playing at Cap Cana. We won Cap Cana. The confidence is growing,” Navone added.
Mariano Navone, brand coach in his team
From Indian Wells he also has a new team, with Alberto Mancini (56 years old), former captain of Argentina's Davis Cup team, head coach, seconded by Dante Gennarothe one who is in Bucharest with Mariano.
“Right now, Alberto is in Rosario, in his town, that's where he lives,” he says with a smile. “But we are a team. We also work together with my fitness trainer. In the second week, I won a tournament. So, not bad. But training with Alberto is something special for meNavone stressed.
“He was a very good player. He was world number eight. He trained many players, Mariano Puerta, Guillermo Coria, Nicolas Lapentti, Pablo Cuevas, Fabio Fognini. He has coached in many places. He has a lot of training experience. I am very happy to work with him. I learn every day. For me, it is very important to see him. The way he talks, the way he says things. It's that simple. It's very nice to work with him,” said Mariano.
He then spoke about the weather in Bucharest, with low temperatures, rain. Present for the third year in a row at the Țiriac Open, Navone has experienced everything. “Last year was crazy, it snowed on the day of the semi-finals“, he recalled. “I hope it won't be like that tomorrow“, he added with a laugh.
“Spring in Argentina is similar to here. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it's windy. But now here it's rained a lot and it's difficult, the balls are getting soft, the pitch is the same. But you have to adapt every day. You can't control the weather or the condition of the pitches. In the end, I just want to play. I am a normal tennis player who wants to play no matter the conditions“, concluded Mariano Navone.
On Saturday, he will do it again here, in Bucharest. In a new ATP semi-final, in a place where he is loved, supported, cheered. He will meet the Dutchman there Botic van de Zandschulpthe 8th seed, in their first ATP matchup. However, the South American has a victory over the batsman, last year, in the Braunschweig challenger, on clay. 6-3, 7-5. How much it will matter remains to be seen.
