Terence Atmane Stuns Holger Rune to Reach Cincinnati Masters Semi-Finals
In a sensational display, French qualifier Terence Atmane has defied the odds to reach the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open, sending shockwaves through the tennis world.
World No. 136 Atmane produced another remarkable upset, following his victory over Taylor Fritz just a day earlier.
On Thursday evening, he overpowered seventh-seed Holger Rune, claiming a 6-2, 6-3 win to secure his first-ever ATP Masters 1000 semi-final appearance. His next challenge? World No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner.
“I don’t think any words can describe how I feel right now,” Atmane said. “It’s pretty insane to be honest. I cannot believe it.
Being here in the semi-finals of a Masters 1000, breaking into the Top 100 and even more with the win tonight — it’s also a lot of money for me, so it’s going to be very helpful for my career. It means a lot to me. I’m very emotional about it.”
Atmane’s forehand proved lethal, firing 14 winners while his fluid movement across the court highlighted his athleticism. The match lasted just one hour and 13 minutes, leaving Rune unable to find a foothold.
Before the tournament, the 23-year-old had a modest 1-4 record at tour-level events this season. Now, he rises 67 places to World No. 69, marking a new career-high in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
“I couldn’t really sleep last night with the win against Taylor,” Atmane admitted. “I was just trying to be myself on court, trying to enjoy it as much as I can because I have nothing to lose, that’s the advantage I have of being the underdog here coming from the qualies.
I think this is going to give me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year and in my career in general.”
By reaching the semi-finals, Atmane has earned $332,160 in prize money, surpassing his total season earnings of $310,376. His performance on serve was almost flawless, losing just five points on his first delivery and creating 11 break opportunities, converting seven.
Atmane’s triumph makes him the first Frenchman to reach the Cincinnati semi-finals since Richard Gasquet in 2019. Additionally, he now ranks among the eight lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalists in history, a testament to his extraordinary run.
For tennis fans, the name Terence Atmane is suddenly impossible to ignore. His journey from qualifier to giant-slayer in Cincinnati is one of the tournament’s most thrilling stories.
