Defending Champion Sinner Dominates Atmane to Secure Spot in Cincinnati ATP Final
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner showcased his championship pedigree by defeating 136th-ranked Terence Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in the semifinals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The victory not only marked Sinner’s 24th birthday but also propelled him into the final, where he aims to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2014-15 to win back-to-back titles in Cincinnati.
Sinner has been in formidable form throughout the tournament, having not dropped a single set on his path to the final. He will face either world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz or third-ranked Alexander Zverev, who were set to compete later in the day.
“It was a very, very tough challenge every time you play a new opponent,” Sinner said after the match. “In the later stages of the tournament, the pressure is on, and they deserve to be there.”
Atmane, a French qualifier who had stunned the tennis world by defeating world No. 4 Taylor Fritz and ninth-ranked Holger Rune to reach the semifinals, proved to be a worthy adversary. Before the match, he even gifted Sinner a Pokémon card, but once the action began, Sinner was all business.
The first set was tightly contested, with both players refusing to yield any break points. Atmane utilized his powerful left-handed forehand effectively, pushing Sinner to the limit. However, Sinner’s experience shone through in the tiebreaker, where Atmane double-faulted on the first point, allowing Sinner to take command and eventually clinch the set 7-6.
“My experience helped in the first set,” Sinner noted. “I’m very happy to go through to another final.”
The second set began with a hint of vulnerability for Sinner, who needed five game points to hold serve in the opening game. But that was the closest Atmane came to breaking through. Sinner quickly regained his momentum, breaking Atmane’s serve for a 3-1 lead and sealing the match with another break shortly after.
With this victory, Sinner extended his impressive record against French players, marking his 22nd consecutive win against them since May 2021. Atmane, despite the loss, is projected to break into the top 70 in the world rankings, and his performance in Cincinnati has undoubtedly raised expectations for his future.
