Before stepping onto center court for their semifinal clash at the Cincinnati Open, Terence Atmane surprised Jannik Sinner with a birthday gift that sparked smiles across the tennis world. In the tunnel leading to the court, Atmane handed Sinner a Pokémon trading card in honor of his 24th birthday. The gesture was unexpected and heartfelt, reflecting Atmane’s passion for collecting and his desire to share something personal with the world number one.
Atmane’s collector spirit
Atmane, who has one of the most impressive Pokémon card collections in France, chose a Pikachu card from his stash. He later explained that he had spent the night before thinking about what to give Sinner and decided that a card from his collection would be the perfect gift. “If that was my birthday, I would be so happy that someone gave me a Pokémon card,” he said. The moment was captured on camera and quickly went viral, showcasing the lighter side of competition.
Sinner’s reaction and reflections
Sinner, who admitted to playing Pokémon Go for only a few days, was touched by the gesture. “I’m very lucky that I got one of his ones,” he said during his post-match interview. Though the two players had never met before, the exchange created a bond that transcended the match itself. Sinner went on to win the semifinal 7-6, 6-2, but the memory of the gift lingered as a highlight of the day.
A moment that resonated
The exchange between Atmane and Sinner added a layer of warmth to the high-stakes tournament. It reminded fans that even in elite sport, there’s room for personality, generosity, and shared interests. For Atmane, it was a chance to introduce his hobby to a fellow player. For Sinner, it was a birthday surprise that stood out among the usual celebrations. The moment captured the spirit of tennis—competitive yet deeply human.
Sinner in Cincinnati, ranking, and results in 2025
Ranked no.1, Jannik has a composed 31-3 win-loss record in 2025. The Italian is now having a run in Cincinnati where he overcame the world no.144 Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1 6-1, the world no.35 Gabriel Diallo 6-2 7-6(6), the world no.89 Adrian Mannarino 6-4 7-6(4)
, the world no.28 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0 6-2 and the world no.136 Terence Atmane 7-6(4) 6-2.Jannik Sinner will compete against the world no.2 Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Their actual head to head record is 9-5 for Alcaraz.
The Italian clinched 2 titles in 2025 at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. The Italian was the runner-up in Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia) and at the French Open.
Jannik won 21 titles in his career: 10 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 8 on indoor courts and 2 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Terence Atmane in 2025
Ranked no.136, Terence played his last match on the 16th of August when he was overcome by world no.1 Jannik Sinner 7-6(4) 6-2 in the semifinal in Cincinnati (draw).
This season Terence owns a composed 31-25 match record. The French player conquered 2 titles in 2025 in the Busan Challenger and the Guangzhou Challenger.
Jannik Sinner and Terence Atmane fought against each other just once. Their current head to head is 1-0 for Sinner.