World No 1 wins 7-6 (4), 6-2 on his 24th birthday
Qualifier Atmane in his first ATP Masters 1000 semi
Jannik Sinner, the top seed and defending champion ended the French qualifier Terence Atmane’s dream run at the Cincinnati Open with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 win to reach the final of the US Open warm-up event.
Sinner, playing on his 24th birthday, won a remarkable 91% of his first-serve points, did not face a single break point during the 86-minute match and converted two of five break points in his first career meeting with Atmane, the world No 136.
“Very, very tough challenge,” Sinner said on court after being serenaded with Happy Birthday by the crowd. “Every time when you play against someone completely new it’s very difficult.
