Atmane, Jannik's opponent: an uncommon intelligence and depression | When to play

A roller coaster of the mind. Frenchman Térence Atmane , who will face Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters 1000 , must first feel good about himself before playing tennis . On the one hand, managing an uncommon IQ : 158 (the "normal" range is between 90 and 110). On the other, the depression he's been dealing with since 2023. A balance that is even more difficult to find in an individual sport. And to maintain. "One night, at three o'clock, I experienced a sort of paralysis. I couldn't move my body and I thought my moment had come. From then on, I decided to fight anxiety and depression with all my strength," he said. Five defeats at the start of the year, then redemption with victories at the Guangzhou and Busan Challengers. Until his recent exploit in Cincinnati.

Atmane, the Cincinnati route and the sponsor to be found

Atmane is currently ranked 136th in the ATP rankings , but thanks to his extraordinary run in Ohio, he'll make a significant leap forward next week. Before Rune, he eliminated Flavio Cobolli, Joao Fonseca , and Taylor Fritz from the American Masters 1000. And who knows if the visibility he's gained will attract a sponsor ? Since September, in fact, after his relationship with Asics ended, Atmane has been buying his own clothes and shoes. Only Tecnifibre supplies his rackets.

Atmane's characteristics and France's hopes

Thanks to coach Guillaume Peyre , "whose words give me confidence during the match," Atmane has further improved his already excellent forehand, a shot that seriously posed problems for Rune. On the night between Saturday and Sunday in Italy, we'll see if the twenty-three-year-old left-hander can also challenge the world number one. French fans are hoping so, even if that's not what the French Tennis Federation is asking, as they would be content to see him consistently among the top players on the tour. Ivan Ljubicic , who oversees the technical aspects of the French Tennis Federation, is crazy about him, often repeating that "Atmane has incredible potential." The former Croatian tennis player, however, uses both carrots and sticks with his protégé. After Atmane's first-round elimination at Roland Garros two years in a row—a Grand Slam to which he had been granted wild card access in both 2024 and 2025—Ljubicic has given him a wake-up call to swell his pride. Given the latest results, the rebuke seems to have worked.