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A First-Round Match That Changes the Tone
Térence Atmane approaches the US Open with a clear opportunity to change the way his season is viewed. The New York draw has given him Jaume Munar in the first round, a solid, experienced opponent, but a less intimidating one than the seeded players the Frenchman has faced in recent months. For a player still seeking to turn flashes of brilliance into lasting results in major draws, this meeting therefore carries particular significance: it is not only about getting through a round, but confirming that he can make his mark in a major tournament without relying on an isolated upset.
Atmane has often shown tennis capable of troubling established players, with his left-handed serve, heavy ball-striking and ability to break out of expected patterns.
The context matters. Atmane has often shown tennis capable of troubling established players, with his left-handed serve, heavy ball-striking and ability to break out of expected patterns. But the Grand Slams have so far left him with a sense of unfinished business. At the Australian Open, he eventually surrendered in five sets to Francesco Maestrelli after taking the lead. At Roland-Garros, he again lost at the end of a long battle against Thanasi Kokkinakis. At Wimbledon, Frances Tiafoe stopped him in the first round. The common thread is clear: Atmane is not outclassed, but he is still missing the final move needed to swing these matches his way.
Stronger Signs on Hard Courts
The North American swing has nevertheless provided encouraging benchmarks. In Washington, Atmane defeated Tiafoe, a few weeks after losing to the American at Wimbledon. This result mattered beyond the rankings because it showed a mental response against an opponent who had dominated him several times. In Montreal, he then followed up with wins over Jack Draper and then Karen Khachanov before falling to Jakub Mensik. In Cincinnati, he again pushed Alexander Zverev through two very tight deciding games.
These results do not mean that Atmane has become the favorite to go deep in New York. Rather, they suggest that he arrives with match volume, high-level contests under his belt and a clearer sense of what his tennis can produce on hard courts. His left-handed ball can open up the court, his serve gives him free points, and his ability to hold his own in rallies has strengthened against more powerful or higher-ranked opponents.
Munar, a Test of Patience
The duel with Munar will require more than a brilliant spell. The Spaniard knows how to extend rallies, vary the height of his shots and make matches uncomfortable. For Atmane, the key will be not to confuse taking the initiative with rushing. If he establishes his serve and forehand quickly, he can prevent Munar from drawing him into a war of attrition. If he forces things too early, the match could close in around him.
That is precisely why this first round is intriguing. It pits a French player seeking validation against an opponent who demands that points be built one by one. Atmane has already shown that he can hang with more high-profile names. The next step is to turn a theoretically manageable matchup into a controlled victory. In New York, his tournament could turn on this very first match: toward an expected confirmation, or toward another Grand Slam frustration.