Jannik Sinner Ends Terence Atmane’s Dream Run To Reach Cincinnati Open Final

The apical seed and defending champion, Jannik Sinner, ended nan French qualifier Terence Atmane’s dream tally astatine nan Cincinnati Open pinch a 7-6 (4), 6-2 triumph connected Saturday to scope nan last of nan US Open warmup event.

Sinner, playing connected his 24th birthday, won a singular 91% of his first-serve points, did not look a azygous break constituent during nan 86-minute lucifer and converted 2 of 5 break points successful his first profession gathering pinch Atmane, nan world No 136.

“Very, very reliable challenge,” Sinner said connected tribunal aft being serenaded pinch “Happy Birthday” by nan crowd. “Every clip erstwhile you play against personification wholly caller it’s very difficult.

“I knew that I had to beryllium very, very observant and my mindset coming was successful a bully spot. I consciousness for illustration I handled situations connected nan tribunal very well.”

The Italian world No 1 had his hands afloat passim a tightly contested first group which featured an imperious serving show from some men and not a azygous break constituent opportunity for either player.

Sinner, who mislaid only 3 points connected service successful nan opening set, held to emotion for a 3rd consecutive crippled to unit nan tie-break wherever Atmane talented his force nan opening constituent pinch a double responsibility and from location nan Italian ne'er looked back.

The reigning US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon champion opened nan 2nd group pinch a nine-minute clasp of serve, past held to emotion earlier yet breaking Atmane for a 3-1 lead that gave him nan cushion he needed.

Sinner followed that pinch different clasp to emotion to spell 4-1 up and each but extremity immoderate dream for Atmane, who hit top-10 players Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune en way to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semi-final.

With Atmane serving astatine 2-5 and looking to enactment successful nan match, Sinner quickly jumped up 0-40 earlier sealing nan triumph connected his 3rd lucifer constituent erstwhile nan Frenchman sent a forehand into nan net. Sinner will look either nan No 2 seed, Carlos Alcaraz, aliases Alexander Zverev successful Monday’s final.