Angry tennis player throws racket toward crowd and gives surprising explanation: “I’m at risk of dropping out of the top 100”

Thursday, 08 October 2026 at 03:20

Terence Atmane has found himself at the centre of controversy in Shanghai after throwing his racket toward the stands during his qualifying match against Bernard Tomic. The racket narrowly avoided the spectators after hitting the side of the court, leaving the Frenchman fortunate to escape a more serious consequence.

The incident came at 2-2 in the deciding set, when Atmane reacted angrily after a missed forehand. The racket travelled across the court and came close to the crowd, but nobody was hit and Atmane was not defaulted. He later retired while trailing Tomic 6-3, 4-6, 5-3, ending his qualifying campaign.

The episode was Atmane's second late retirement in as many tournaments. A week earlier, he had stopped his Challenger match against Elias Ymer at 5-5 in the third set in Jingshan. That sequence has added to a difficult period for the 24-year-old, who has seen his ranking fall dramatically in recent months.

Atmane eventually addressed the situation on Instagram, apologising for his behaviour while pointing to the pressure created by his sharp decline in the rankings. The Frenchman reached a career-high No. 41 in April and was still inside the top 50 in August. He is now ranked No. 99.

Atmane explains the pressure behind his outburst

Atmane did not try to excuse what happened in Shanghai. Instead, he acknowledged that his current position on the rankings has affected him more than he expected, putting the incident into the broader context of a difficult few weeks.

"Being inside the top 40 a month ago and seeing myself almost out of the top 100 made me way more stressed and pressured than I could possibly imagine."

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The Frenchman added that the pressure does not justify his behaviour, but said he has now decided to step away and reassess his situation. His comments suggest that his immediate priority is no longer simply getting back into the top 100, but finding a way to stabilise himself after a sharp downturn.

"It doesn’t excuse me for my bad behaviour, and after considering what happened on court for these past weeks, I’ve decided to take a step back and rebuild myself from 0."

The results behind Atmane's frustration have been significant. He has managed just one Tour-level quarterfinal this season, at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco, while also reaching the last 16 at the Miami Masters. Since then, however, he has struggled to reproduce that level consistently.

Bon… eh bien Terence Atmane a juste lâchement abandonné en voyant que le match lui échappait… Ni combativité, ni fair-play, c’est impossible à défendre ça. https://t.co/ZqgzxwbqYy
— Avantage Tennis 🎾 (@AvantageTennis_) September 30, 2026

Atmane unsure whether his season is over

There is now also uncertainty over how much tennis Atmane will play for the remainder of 2026. While he stressed that his health concerns are physical rather than mental, he said he cannot yet determine whether he will return to competition this season.

"Considering my health issues (not mental but actual health) I can’t tell if my season is over yet but all I know is that no matter what decisions we will make, it’ll be the best one."

The timing is significant because Atmane has relatively few ranking points to defend during the final weeks of the season. After last year's China Open, he did not win another match in 2025, meaning a decision to step away could limit his opportunities to recover ground but would also give him time to address the problems he says have affected him.

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For now, the biggest change is the number beside his name in the rankings. Atmane was No. 41 only six months ago and is now on the edge of falling out of the top 100. His Shanghai incident may have been the most visible moment of his recent frustration, but his own explanation suggests that the underlying problem is much broader.

He apologised, accepted responsibility and admitted that the pressure had become difficult to handle. With his ranking continuing to slide and his season still uncertain, Atmane now faces a more important question than his next tournament: how to rebuild from a position he never expected to find himself in.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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