Qualifier Terence Atmane reaches Cincinnati Masters semifinal

Terence Atmane surged from the qualifying rounds to the Cincinnati Masters semifinals, delivering another upset to join a rising list of breakout performances at the hard-court event. The French 23-year-old defeated Holger Rune 6-2, 6-3 to reach the last four, after earlier stunning world No. 4 Taylor Fritz, and now awaits a meeting with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner for a spot in the final. The appearance marks a remarkable climb for a player who entered the week outside the Top 100 and has suddenly transformed his prospects at one of the season’s highest-profile events.

In a week that has showcased the depth of the field, Atmane’s quarterfinal win over Rune capped a historic run. He defeated Fritz in three sets in the previous round, a result that made him the fourth qualifier in Cincinnati to defeat a top-10 opponent at a Masters 1000 event and the lowest-ranked player to reach the last four since the early-2020s. The match against Rune, characterized by a precise, aggressive left-handed game and consistent serving, left Atmane elated but understandably measured about what he has already accomplished. “I couldn’t really sleep last night with the win against Taylor. I was just...