Qualifier Atmane stuns Fritz as Sinner, Alcaraz cruise into Cincinnati quarters

French qualifier Terence Atmane produced the upset of the Western & Southern Open by knocking out No.4 seed Taylor Fritz, while top seeds Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz powered through in straight sets

14 August 2025

Terence Atmane, Cincinnati 2025 | © © Wally Nell/ZUMA Press Wire/SIPA

Cédric Rouquette

Cincinnati Open •Round of 16 • Completed

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T. FritzvsT. Atmane

The Cincinnati crowd witnessed one of the biggest shocks of the season as French qualifier Terence Atmane toppled fourth seed Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday, stealing the spotlight and booking his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final appearance. The French lefty will also get a spot in the Top 100 at the ATP rankings after this tournament.

Atmane, ranked No.136, entered the tournament with just one tour-level win in 2025, making his breakthrough in breathtaking fashion. The 23-year-old left-hander fired 13 aces and won 82% of first serve points, defying expectations against the home favorite.

“I couldn’t believe it, to be honest… I just cannot describe this feeling, but I’m super happy, so happy,” Atmane said, beaming after his nerve-shredding match point conversion. He became the first qualifier to reach the last eight at a Masters 1000 since Max Purcell’s run in Cincinnati two years ago, and the lowest-ranked player to do so here since Borna Coric’s title run in 2022.

Sinner and Alcaraz rising

While Atmane’s rise was the headline, the top seeds showed no signs of faltering. No.1 seed Jannik Sinner, steady and ruthless all summer, dispatched Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 7-6(4). True to form, Sinner was clinical on serve—blasting 12 aces and winning all but one point behind his first serve. The Italian has yet to drop a set in Cincinnati and, supported by a rock-solid baseline game, continues marching toward a potential final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz.

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025 | © Claude Cabit / PsNewz

Alcaraz himself powered into the quarters with a blistering 6-1, 6-4 win over Italian Luca Nardi, under the Centre Court lights after a rain delay. The World No.2, seemingly unfazed by schedule disruptions, took the first set in just 27 minutes and, after briefly falling behind 2-4 in the second, reeled off four straight games to close in 80 minutes.

Shelton’s last American hope

Alcaraz, seeking his first Cincinnati crown after falling agonizingly short in the 2023 final, now holds a 51-6 mark on the season with five titles. “I think this match was the best so far for me in this tournament,” Alcaraz commented. “I’m just really happy with the way I felt the ball today and the way that I moved.” The Spaniard will next face Andrey Rublev, who overcame Francisco Comesana 6-2, 6-3 to avenge last month’s Wimbledon loss to the Argentine.

The American contingent faced a somber setback as Frances Tiafoe, last year’s finalist, was forced to retire from his match against Holger Rune due to a back injury with the score at 4-6, 1-3. With Tiafoe’s withdrawal, young Ben Shelton stands as the last hope for a U.S. men’s singles champion in Cincinnati, carrying the home crowd’s aspirations into the closing rounds.

Also advancing: Alexander Zverev completed a new rain-interrupted win over Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 6-4 and is aiming to recapture the Cincy title he won in 2021.