Terence Atmane Surges to Semifinals in Cincinnati Open

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Terence Atmane, a 23-year-old French qualifier, made headlines this week by reaching the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open. His incredible journey has seen him rise to No. 69 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings as he faces the world’s top-ranked player on Saturday.

Atmane’s success in Ohio marks a significant milestone in his career. Prior to this tournament, he had never advanced past the third round in any tour-level event. However, he stunned the tennis community by knocking off World No. 4 Taylor Fritz and World No. 9 Holger Rune in earlier rounds.

“Playing with a sense of freedom has been incredible,” Atmane commented about his performance. “I just hope to continue this run.” The Frenchman has already earned $332,160 in prize money during this tournament alone, more than he won all season.

Off the court, Atmane has unique interests that make him stand out. He is an avid Pokémon card collector, starting his collection in 2007. “I remember playing with friends and then began collecting,” he shared in an interview with ATPTour.com.

Atmane’s introduction to tennis was unconventional. His passion for video games, particularly Virtua Tennis and Wii Sports, led his mother to buy him a tennis racquet. “Since then, I’ve never stopped playing,” he said.

A pet lover, Atmane enjoys quality time with his three cats and practices magic tricks during his leisure time, earning him the nickname ‘The Magician.’ This week, he has shown mixed emotions as he navigated the pressures of the semifinals.

He aims to use his extensive background in the Challenger Tour, where he has won four titles, to his advantage against his next opponent, whom he regards with great respect. With his current trajectory, Atmane is set to break into the Top 100, a goal he has pursued fervently.

As excitement builds for his matchup with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Tennis fans across the globe are eager to see if Atmane can maintain his momentum and create another unforgettable upset in Cincinnati.