Terence Atmane’s fairy-tale story has continued.
The Frenchman, ranked 136 in the world, has produced four spirited main draw performances to reach the first Masters 1000 quarter-final of his career at the Cincinnati Open.
Atmane, who also won two rounds of qualifying, stunned Taylor Fritz on Wednesday evening, winning 3-6 7-5 6-3.
The 23-year-old has also defeated Joao Fonseca and Flavio Cobolli on his way to the last eight.
Atmane made his Grand Slam main draw debut as a qualifier at the Australian Open. The Frenchman faced a tricky first-round opponent: former world number one Daniil Medvedev.
Daniil Medvedev told Terence Atmane he was ‘unplayable’
At the 2024 Australian Open, young Terence Atmane was handed a daunting task against Daniil Medvedev after winning three rounds of qualifying.
Atmane stunned Medvedev in the first set, winning it 7-5. However the Russian fought back, taking the next two sets 6-2 6-4.
Unfortunately, the Frenchman was forced to retire at 0-1 in the fourth set.
Speaking to the ATP Tour in May, Atmane revealed the advice Daniil Medvedev offered him at the net after their clash in Australia.
Atmane said: “He was telling me, ‘keep going, because you are unplayable’.
It was something like that — I don’t remember exactly — but it was something like ‘unplayable.’
“And then after, he mentioned in the interview, ‘yeah, that guy played like Top 20 for three sets’. He gave me big confidence. Daniil wasn’t someone I knew from before.”
Terence Atmane will play Holger Rune in the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals
Terence Atmane’s task has become no less difficult after defeating Taylor Fritz. The 23-year-old faces Danish star Holger Rune in the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals.
Rune, who defeated Frances Tiafoe in the round of 16, appears to have kicked into form after working with Andre Agassi at the Washington Open.
The Dane appears to have rediscovered some form after some mid-season struggles. He was recently branded ‘immature’ before losing in the Wimbledon first round.
The winner of Rune and Atmane will face Jannik Sinner or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals.
