A new hope for French tennis: what makes Térence Atmane unique in the ATP Tour
At 23 years old, Térence Atmane made a strong statement in Cincinnati, coming through qualifying and taking down a string of high-level opponents.
His performance became his calling card: a powerful left-handed serve, an aggressive forehand, and the knack for breaking rhythm with short, sharp rallies.
Ranked No. 136 at the start of the week, Térence Atmane went on a stunning run — beating Nishioka, Cobolli, Fonseca, Fritz (ATP No. 4) and Rune — to break into the top 100 for the first time. In the semifinals, he faces world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, a stage few expected him to reach.
Térence Atmane is a left-hander standing 193 cm tall with a two-handed backhand. In the ATP, that’s a rare combination: tall left-handers often rely on a one-handed backhand and a serve-heavy game, while he blends a high-contact serve with solid, varied baseline play.
A late bloomer, Térence Atmane spent his teenage years balancing school with training in regional centers. He never cracked the top French juniors or made a mark on the ITF Junior Tour.
He turned pro in spring 2022 on the ITF Futures circuit, choosing a smart entry point — a run of tournaments in Monastir (Tunisia), where French players often collect early ranking points against moderate competition.
Within months, he had two ITF titles and three more finals, bringing both confidence and a sharp rise in the rankings. His focus was clear: hard courts, where his serve and aggressive style quickly paid dividends.
In 2023, he claimed Challenger titles in Zhangjiagang and Guangzhou — uncommon stops for European players, but ones where he took advantage of a thinner draw. Those results lifted him into the top 150.
In 2024, he qualified and reached the third round in Rome, beating Lorenzo Musetti. Then came the breakthrough of summer 2025: Cincinnati, where his run of wins over top-10 and top-30 opponents punched his ticket into the top 100 and turned heads across the tour.
This may prove the high point of his season, but his smart scheduling and steady progress suggest Térence Atmane could become one of the few young Frenchmen ready to lock down a place in the ATP top 50.
Cover photo: Terence Atmane playing in the first round of qualifying at the 2024 Washington Open. Wikimedia Commons by Hameltion
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