Jannik Sinner experienced a heartwarming moment at the Cincinnati Open, receiving an unexpected birthday gift from his semi-final opponent, Terence Atmane. The thoughtful gesture occurred before their match on August 16, 2025, Sinner's 24th birthday.
Atmane, known to be an avid Pokémon card collector, gifted Sinner a Pikachu Pokémon card. The moment, captured by backstage cameras, showed Atmane presenting the card to a surprised and delighted Sinner in the tunnel before they walked onto the court. Tennis Channel commentator Prakash Amritraj, witnessing the exchange, called Atmane "exceptional" for his sportsmanship and kindness.
Sinner himself acknowledged the gesture as a "nice moment," especially considering they didn't know each other well. Atmane explained that he had been pondering what to give Sinner and decided on a Pokémon card as a personal and fitting gift. He felt it represented him, given his passion for collecting the cards, estimating his collection to be worth around $10,000, holding one of the biggest collections in France.
The crowd at the Cincinnati Open also joined in the birthday celebrations, singing "Happy Birthday" to Sinner before the match. This isn't the first time Sinner has celebrated his birthday at the Cincinnati Open; in 2021, the tournament presented him with a pizza decorated with "20" in pepperoni.
Despite the heartwarming pre-match exchange, Sinner and Atmane engaged in a competitive semi-final. Sinner ultimately won the match in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-2. The match lasted 86 minutes, with Sinner displaying strong play and composure. He won an impressive 91% of his first-serve points and capitalized on two of his five break-point opportunities.
Atmane, who had a remarkable run at the Cincinnati Open, had previously defeated top-10 players Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune. However, Sinner's experience and consistency proved too much for the French qualifier. This victory marked Sinner's 200th career win on hard courts and extended his winning streak on the surface to 26 matches.
Sinner, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, advanced to the Cincinnati Open final where he will face Carlos Alcaraz. This final marks their fourth consecutive meeting in a tournament final. Sinner is aiming for his fifth Masters 1000 title and his 21st overall. He trails Alcaraz in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and hopes to close the gap with a victory in Cincinnati.
Atmane's semi-final appearance at the Cincinnati Open marked a significant milestone in his career. He entered the competition ranked No. 136 and is projected to reach a career-high ranking of No. 69.
The combination of Atmane's thoughtful birthday gift and Sinner's victory created a memorable day at the Cincinnati Open. Both players displayed great sportsmanship, and the crowd enjoyed a thrilling match.
