Jannik Sinner: The Unseen Tenant of Terence Atmane’s Mind
Dynamic lefty thrives on the grandest stages against the finest opponents.
October 01, 2025
Image Credit: Getty
Terence Atmane’s recent clashes with Jannik Sinner over the last two months.
By Paul Macpherson
Dream big, swing boldly.
That’s the essence of Terence Atmane, the vibrant, up-and-coming French talent known for his passion for Pokémon and intriguing magic tricks.
Having soaked up the electric atmosphere of competing against then-World No. 1 Jannik Sinner during the Cincinnati Open semi-finals in August, Atmane’s motivation soared during a three-week training session under the relentless Dubai sun, preparing for the Asian circuit.
At just 23 years of age, the left-handed dynamo found himself back in the ring sooner than expected.
Following a setback against Dino Prizmic in Chengdu, Atmane squared off against Sinner once again in the second round of the China Open in Beijing, managing to secure a set before Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam champion, ultimately triumphed 6-4, 5-7, 6-0.
“Honestly, I had this match on my mind every single day while training in Dubai, envisioning what strategies I needed to implement on the court to bridge the gap,” Atmane expressed to ATPTour.com in Shanghai. “The match [in Beijing] was illuminating; it showed me I could win a set, but I’m still not ready to claim victory in a best-of-three format.”
“It reinforced my belief that I’m making strides since I improved my performance compared to our last encounter [a 7-6(4), 6-2 loss in Cincinnati]. It’s crucial to remember for me that no one is invincible, though there’s certainly work to be done if I aim to overcome him.”
Life has transformed significantly for Atmane in the last two months. Previously seen primarily in qualifying rounds and ATP Challenger events throughout 2025, his breakthrough in Cincinnati—where he took down Top 10 stars Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune and Next Gen ATP Finals victor Joao Fonseca on his way to the quarter-finals—catapulted his PIF ATP Ranking from 136 to 69, adding a $332,000 prize to his season earnings.
Although he felt disappointment sidelined by a foot injury during the US Open, Atmane was thrilled to return to competition in Asia, where he had previously tasted success, clinching Challenger titles in Busan, South Korea, and Guangzhou, China.
However, the steady climb up the rankings—approaching the Top 50—doesn’t fuel Atmane; instead, it’s thrilling encounters with stars like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz [whom he is yet to face] that fire him up.
“I believe in setting my ambitions sky-high,” he emphasized. “I’m not focused on chasing numerical rankings like Top 50 or Top 40. My sole aim is to evolve into a better athlete and person every single day.”
“In Cincinnati, I overcame Taylor and Holger. I recognize their superiority, yet I know I can defeat them. Jannik is ahead of me, but I am determined to close that gap. This drive is why I was so eager for a rematch.”
“My first goal was to confirm to myself that I could take a set off him. Next, I aim to conquer two sets, but I understand that takes time.”
“I’m committed to putting in the effort, because ultimately, my goal is to defeat players like Jannik and Carlos. That’s my singular focus.”
With a potent lefty serve and a formidable forehand, Atmane shared that his inspirations trace back to former Chilean World No. 5 Fernando Gonzalez. Though they haven’t played one another, they recently connected via Instagram.
“It may come as a surprise, but he was my favorite player growing up. Watching him play brought so much energy; his forehand was consistently explosive. I admired that quality and aimed to emulate it as I developed my game. Even now, I make it a point to watch his matches during my downtime.”
Making his debut as a direct entrant into an ATP Masters 1000 main draw, Atmane is set to face Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the opening round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters this Thursday, with the winner gearing up for a clash against World No. 7 Alex de Minaur in the second round.
