Tennis-Atmane gifts birthday boy Sinner Pokemon card ahead of Cincinnati semi-final
(Reuters) -Frenchman Terence Atmane made sure Jannik Sinner had a 24th birthday to remember, gifting the world number one a Pokemon card before going on to lose their semi-final meeting at the Cincinnati Open on Saturday.
Top seed and defending champion Sinner ended qualifier Atmane's run at the Masters 1000 tournament with a 7-6(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 collectable 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," Atmane 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 Italian 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 number 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."
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Soccer-Newcastle sign midfielder Ramsey from Villa
Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - April 5, 2025 Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo (Reuters) -Newcastle United have signed midfielder Jacob Ramsey from fellow Premier League club Aston Villa on a long-term contract, both clubs said on Sunday. Newcastle are expected to pay about 40 million pounds ($54.20 million) for the 24-year-old on a five-year deal, according to English media, though no fee or details were officially disclosed. The 2023 England Under-21 European Championship winner Ramsey will wear the No. 41 shirt for his new club. "His qualities will bring us something different on the pitch and he fits the profile of being young and hungry to develop, but also with a wealth of Premier League football under his belt," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said in a press release. ($1 = 0.7380 pounds) (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Sailing-France edge rivals to win SailGP Germany
SASSNITZ, Germany (Reuters) -France secured their first SailGP victory of the year as Quentin Delapierre's team won the Germany Sail Grand Prix on Sunday, edging a nail-biting three-boat duel on the calm waters of Sassnitz. In a gripping finale that came down to the final metres, France kept their composure to edge out Australia and Britain, who finished second and third respectively. The French combined bold tactics with precision, sustaining their foiling speed while their opponents struggled to keep pace. Flawless execution proved decisive as the race boiled down to who could stay on the foils, with France crossing first to lift the SailGP Germany title. Dylan Fletcher's Britain crew were forced out of race four in Sassnitz on Saturday after a collision with the U.S. team but returned to the start line following overnight repairs. Brazil did not race after a crash on Friday. Australia lead the overall championship table level on 61 points with New Zealand. Britain are third with 58 points. The next round is in Saint-Tropez from September 12-13. (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Soccer-World champions Chelsea brought down to earth by Palace
Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - August 17, 2025 Chelsea's Marc Cucurella in action with Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge LONDON (Reuters) -A huge banner hailing the "Champions of the World" was unfurled in The Shed end of the Stamford Bridge stadium before Chelsea's return to domestic action on Sunday hot on the heels of the club's success at the Club World Cup last month. But by the end of the 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace, Chelsea fans had no doubts about the differences between playing in a summer tournament and the rigours of the Premier League, even with the addition of yet more high-profile signings. Chelsea were fortunate not to have gone behind in the 13th minute when Eberechi Eze hammered home a free-kick for the visitors, only for his effort to be overruled on a technicality due to the position of a teammate in the defensive wall. The Blues' Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens failed to have much impact on their league debuts and it was stand-in 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong - selected to play in the centre of the back line - who caught the eye. After the excitement generated by Chelsea's 3-0 drubbing of European champions Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup final on July 13, and pre-season wins over Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan, Sunday's stalemate was frustrating for the home fans. Their chorus of "We've won it all" faded as Chelsea struggled to pierce Palace's defensive lines and there was an air of resignation as the final whistle approached. Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca can take some positives from the performance of his young side against last season's FA Cup winners, including the impact of Brazilian winger Estevao who injected urgency and pace after he came on in the 54th minute. The 18-year-old had a great chance to win the game in the dying minutes when he was found by a cross from Marc Cucurella but he fired over the bar. Maresca praised Estevao for showing personality and said: "He will be a very important player for this club." The Italian manager played down suggestions Chelsea's preparations for the new season were too short due to the club competing in the United States until mid-July. "I don't think so because until the end we competed, we tried to win the game," he told reporters. Palace coach Oliver Glasner was peppered with questions about the future of England midfielder Eze who is reported to a transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur and other clubs. "It's the club's decision and we will see what happens," the Austrian said. (Writing by William Schomberg)
