Atmane referenced a paradox related to aliens after beating Holger Rune to reach his first ATP 1,000 semifinal.

A rampaging Jannik Sinner will cross paths with a spirited Terence Atmane in their first-ever meeting on the ATP Tour. Sinner will be battling history along with Atmane, for no player has defended his title in a decade.

Terence Atmane has been the outstanding storyline throughout the Cincinnati Open this year, as the most unlikely of successes that just keeps on winning. Coming through qualifying, the Frenchman had offered no suggestion that he had such a mesmeric run within him.

Cincinnati Masters sensation Terence Atmane says he is just a regular guy who has to buy himself clothes and shoes for matches, and adds he is solely responsible for his career since he doesn't have an agent.

In addition to Rune and Fritz, Atmane got through Joao Fonseca and Flavio Cobolli in Cincinnati. He entered the main draw through the tournament's qualifying matches, becoming the first qualifier to reach the semifinal in Cincinnati since 2015.