Jannik Sinner’s French Lockdown: 22 and Counting

Jannik Sinner’s stranglehold over French opponents reached another height after the world no.1 dispatched Terence Atmane in straight sets in Cincinnati on Saturday, sealing his 22nd consecutive win against a French player. This streak dates back to May 2021.

Sinner Dominates the French

The last Frenchman to beat him was Arthur Rinderknech, who stunned a teenage Sinner in Lyon four years ago. Since then, the Italian has turned every tricolore challenge into routine business, brushing aside a parade of both French veterans and rising stars without blinking.

Atmane, playing in his first Masters semifinal, hoped to change the narrative. The 22-year-old threw everything he had at the Italian, mixing explosive forehands with fearless net rushes, but Sinner remained unshakeable. He moved like quicksilver, redirected pace with surgical precision, and suffocated the Frenchman’s rhythm and resilience until the contest tilted irreversibly in his favour.

The victory doesn’t just highlight Sinner’s penchant for French delicacy; it also underscores his staggering consistency across surfaces and settings. From the Miami sunshine to the red dirt of Roland Garros, French players have tried every possible angle, yet the result has always been the same: defeat.

For Atmane, this run may well be the start of something bigger; he has shown he can compete at the sharp end of big events. For Sinner, though, the win is another reminder of why he is the game’s gold standard right now. His blend of control and composure has not just secured him titles but also produced one of the most curious streaks in modern tennis.

Twenty-two Frenchmen have tried. Twenty-two have failed. The riddle of how to stop Jannik Sinner remains unanswered.