Despite his success, Atmane has a known emotional side, having struggled with anger on court, including incidents at Roland-Garros where he lost control and injured a spectator, though his coach and officials see his potential.

Other top seeds like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek also progressed, with Sabalenka defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to reach the quarterfinals.

Atmane's high IQ of 158 influences his decision-making on court but also causes nerves and overthinking, adding to his emotional volatility.

Overcoming nerves and a one-set deficit, Atmane defeated Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, winning 82% of first-serve points and firing 13 aces, with emotional tears following his win.

Atmane will face Danish player Holger Rune, ranked 9th, in the quarter-finals, marking his first win over a top 20 player and aiming to advance further.

American Ben Shelton and German Alexander Zverev advanced to the next rounds; Shelton defeated Bautista Agut and will face Jiri Lehecka, while Zverev benefited from Karen Khachanov's withdrawal due to injury.

French tennis player Térence Atmane, ranked 136th and aged 23, achieved a career milestone by defeating 4th-ranked Taylor Fritz at the Cincinnati Masters 1000, reaching the quarterfinals in his first appearance at this level.

Atmane, who qualified for the tournament with only one tour-level win in 2025, relied on a powerful serve with 13 aces and a heavy topspin forehand to win in three sets after nearly two hours, describing this victory as the biggest of his career.

Top men's contenders Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both advanced to the quarter-finals; Sinner overcame rain delays and a tough match, while Alcaraz defeated Luca Nardi easily.

This victory significantly boosts Atmane's career, elevating him into the Top 100 ATP rankings for the first time at a career-high No. 93.

His win was driven by a strategic mental shift from reactive to aggressive play, learned from a previous loss to Fritz at the 2024 Shanghai Masters.

Off the court, Atmane faced challenges such as being dropped by his sponsor Asics in October 2024, now buying his gear independently, indicating a tough professional environment.