Terence Atmane gifts birthday boy Jannik Sinner Pokemon card ahead of Cincinnati semi-final

Cincinnati – Frenchman Terence Atmane made sure Jannik Sinner had a 24th birthday to remember, gifting the world No. 1 a Pokemon card before going on to lose their semi-final meeting at the Cincinnati Open on Aug 16.

The Italian top seed and defending champion ended qualifier Atmane's run at the Masters 1000 event with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 win.

Before the match, the pair were seen talking to each other in the tunnel leading onto centre court, where Atmane handed over the collectible based on the hit Japanese video game series and TV show.

“It’s his birthday today, so I had to give him a little something,” the 23-year-old told reporters.

“I was thinking last night about what I should give to him. I was like, ‘I think I still have some Pokemon cards that I brought from France. Why not give him just a Pokemon card?’ I’m a Pokemon card collector. I think this is the perfect gift.

“If that was my birthday, I would be so happy that someone gave me a Pokemon card.”

Sinner, who was also serenaded with Happy Birthday by the crowd, was grateful and slightly bemused by the gift.

“I was talking to him a little bit in the locker room. He has one of the biggest collections of Pokemon cards, and I’m very lucky that I got one of his ones,” the four-time Grand Slam champion told Tennis Channel.

“It was just a nice moment before a match, we didn’t know each other at all. So, it was a nice moment... The card was a kind of Pikachu. It said 30 damage to itself, so I don’t know if that is good or not!”

For Atmane, the defeat ended a remarkable run in Cincinnati during which he recorded wins over top-10 players Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune.

“Absolutely crazy, insane. I still cannot believe that I made the semi-finals here,” said world No. 136 Atmane, who only a couple of months ago suffered back-to-back first-round exits in the second-tier Challenger Tour.

“Playing against Jannik today was also a very good memory for myself and I will remember that for a long time.”

He said he had worked a lot on his mental strength and controlling his emotions.

“I think that’s the key for me to succeed at a high level.”

Sinner and hot rival Carlos Alcaraz will face off in a major final for the fourth time this season.

The Spanish second seed defeated an ailing Alexander Zverev, who was suffering badly from the 32 deg C heat and humidity 6-4, 6-3.

The German, who is diabetic, began feeling poorly and took a medical timeout off court after the third game of the second set.

Zverev, who has retired in only two matches since 2014, came back out to finish what was a patchy match from Alcaraz, who double faulted four times in the second game of the second set but won the last 16 points, with Zverev running on fumes.

Alcaraz and Sinner have played for trophies this season in Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, with the Italian winning their most recent meeting at the All England Club last month.

Sinner is trying to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2014 and 2015 to win back-to-back titles in Cincinnati.

Sinner, tuning up for the US Open in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon, has not dropped a set en route to the final.

“It’s a very, very tough challenge every time you play a new opponent,” he said. “In the later stages of the tournament, the pressure is on, they deserve to be there.”

Alcaraz will also be playing in his second Cincinnati final after losing to Novak Djokovic in 2023.

The Spaniard increased his ATP season match wins to 53 in a year of five titles.

Alcaraz said he is keen to try and take his Wimbledon revenge on Sinner in the unorthodox Aug 18 final.

“We always bring our best tennis. We raise each other’s level. I’m ready to take the challenge,” the 22-year-old said. “I will try and adjust my game better and correct what I did wrong in our last match. I want to be ready with my 100 per cent. Mentally I’ll be ready – I’m excited for Monday.” REUTERS, AFP