Jannik Sinner's Cincinnati Open rival gives him bizarre gift before match

Jannik Sinner was gifted a Pokemon card by opponent Terence Atmane ahead of their Cincinnati Open semi-final on Saturday. The Italian was competing in the last-four on what was his 24th birthday, with Atmane keen to give his rival a present to mark the occasion.

Atmane enjoyed his best-ever tournament performance in Cincinnati, with the Frenchman having come through qualifying to reach the main draw. He'd never progressed beyond the third round of a competition in the past and hadn't ever broken into the top 100 of the ATP rankings.

Determined to leave an impression both on and off the court, Atmane presented Sinner with the present while the pair were waiting in the tunnel. While at first surprised, Sinner was spotted with a smile on his face after Atmane explained exactly what it was.

Atmane is known for his quirks and is believed to be one of the biggest Pokemon card collectors in France. The current world No.136 has posted photos on social media in the past showcasing his collection, with Atmane also said to have an IQ of 158.

It didn't come as a good luck charm on the court, with Sinner securing a straight-sets win in the semi-final clash. Having needed a tiebreaker to win the first, Sinner took the second with a comfortable 6-2 win.

Speaking after his triumph, Sinner said: "Very very tough challenge. Every time you play someone completely new, it's very difficult. Playing against these guys in the later stages of tournaments makes it even more difficult. The pressure is higher, you know they deserve to be there.

"He's beaten incredible players to reach the semi-finals. I knew I have to be very careful. My mindset today was in a good spot. I handled the situations on the court very well. He was serving incredibly well the first set. He has huge, huge potential, I think we saw this throughout the tournament. I wish him only the best. From my side I'm very happy to be in the finals again."

It continues Sinner's remarkable winning run, with the now 24-year-old having remained unbeaten since before Wimbledon. Sinner will play one of Alexander Zverev or Carlos Alcaraz in the final, with the two titans of tennis set to face off in the second semi-final.