Cincinnati Masters 1000: The incredible joy of Frenchman Terence Atmane, in the quarter-finals after beating the world number 4
The world number 136, who had never beaten a member of the top 20, claimed the biggest victory of his career on Thursday by defeating ATP number 4 Taylor Fritz in three sets (3-6, 7-5, 6-3) in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati.
By Le ParisienFor his first victory against a member of the top 20, Terence Atmane did not do things by halves on Thursday, August 14, eliminating Taylor Fritz in three sets (3-6, 7-5, 6-3), at home in Cincinnati.
To knock out the finalist of the last US Open and Masters, the left-hander, born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, took advantage of his two great qualities: his serve (13 aces), and a power shot that disoriented the American from the second set onwards.
"This is the biggest victory of my career, I'm lost for words, it's exceptional," Atmane told the organizers' microphone, after shedding a few tears after the match point, in an outpouring of joy at the height of his achievement.
Thanks to his exceptional performance in Ohio, where he has already beaten Flavio Cobolli (22nd) and Joao Fonseca (52nd), Atmane will enter the world top 100 (93rd) for the first time in his career.
In his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, he faces another giant, Holger Rune, world number 9. The Frenchman will face the Dane this Thursday in the evening session.
"I hope this is the start of a long series. It's up to me to keep working so that this tournament is not an achievement but a foundation to build on," he warned.
Atmane is the last French representative in the men's draw, following the defeats on Wednesday of Benjamin Bonzi against the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime and Adrian Mannarino against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Varvara Gracheva will play her round of 16 match against the German Ella Seidel (20 years old, 125th) on Thursday.
Le Parisien
