Top Seed Dominates French Qualifier in US Open Warm-Up Event

Jannik Sinner, the top seed and defending champion, marked his 24th birthday in style by defeating French qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the Cincinnati Open semifinals. The Italian world No 1 showcased his impressive serving skills, winning 91% of his first-serve points and not facing a single break point throughout the 86-minute match.

Atmane, the world No 136, had been on a remarkable run, beating top-10 players Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune en route to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal. However, Sinner’s dominant performance proved too much for the Frenchman, who struggled to contain the top seed’s powerful serve.

The first set was a closely contested affair, with both players displaying impressive serving skills. Sinner, who lost only three points on serve in the opening set, held to love for a third consecutive game to force the tie-break. Atmane handed Sinner the first point with a double fault, and the Italian never looked back.

The second set was a one-sided affair, with Sinner dominating Atmane from the start. He opened the set with a nine-minute hold of serve, which set the tone for the rest of the match. Sinner then held to love before breaking Atmane for a 3-1 lead, giving him the cushion he needed to take control of the match. Sinner followed that with another hold to love to go 4-1 up and all but end any hope for Atmane.

The final nail in the coffin came when Atmane served at 2-5 and Sinner quickly jumped ahead 0-40 before sealing the win on his third match point. Sinner’s victory marked his 25th consecutive hard-court win, a testament to his impressive form this season.

With the victory, Sinner will face either the No 2 seed, Carlos Alcaraz, or Alexander Zverev in Monday’s final. The Italian world No 1 will be looking to add to his impressive collection of titles, which already includes the US Open, Australian Open, and Wimbledon crowns.

Sinner’s post-match comments highlighted the difficulty of facing an opponent he had never played before. “Every time when you play against someone completely new it’s very difficult,” he said. “I knew that I had to be very, very careful and my mindset today was in a good spot. I feel like I handled situations on the court very well.”

The Cincinnati Open has proven to be a successful warm-up event for the US Open, with several top players using it as a chance to fine-tune their form before the Grand Slam tournament. Sinner’s victory has set the stage for an exciting final, with the Italian world No 1 looking to cap off a successful tournament with another title.