Tennis: Jannik Sinner celebrates birthday by closing in on Cincinnati Open title

World No.1 Jannik Sinner celebrated his 24th birthday by defeating France's Terence Atmane in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to advance to the final of the Cincinatti Open on Saturday, 16 August.

The first set was a tense affair, with both players holding their serve to take it to a tiebreak, which Italian Sinner edged 7-4.

The Wimbledon champion then broke the Frenchman in the fourth game of the second set and again in the eighth as the pressure got too much for Atmane, with Sinner closing out the match 6-2.

Sinner said in the courtside interview afterwards: "It was a tough challenge because when you play against somebody completely new, it's very difficult.

"He has beaten some incredible players on the way to the semi-finals, so I knew I had to be very careful. My mindset today was in a good spot and I handled the situations on the court very well. He was serving incredibly well in the first set, so he has huge potential. I'm very happy to be in the final."

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