“I was scared”: Cincinnati semifinalist recounts the bizarre moment a fan tracked his movements with an AirTag

Saturday, 15 August 2026 at 20:00

Terence Atmane has experienced a rapid rise over the past year, but increased recognition has also brought an uncomfortable side of professional tennis. The Frenchman, now ranked No. 45 in the world, has spoken about the attention players receive away from the court and recalled a bizarre incident in Rome involving a fan and an AirTag.

The 24-year-old explained that the situation began with fans regularly waiting outside his hotel. What initially appeared to be excessive enthusiasm eventually crossed a much more serious line when one supporter found a way to track Atmane's movements and get close to his hotel room.

Atmane's experience highlights an increasingly complicated reality for players whose profiles grow quickly. The Frenchman went from being ranked outside the Top 100 to becoming a recognizable name on the ATP Tour in less than a year, bringing significantly more attention away from tournaments and practice courts.

The incident happened months after Atmane's breakthrough at the Cincinnati Open, where he produced one of the biggest surprise runs of the 2025 season. A year later, he returns to the tournament as a Top 50 player with much more at stake — and with a very different level of attention surrounding him.

The bizarre Rome incident

The situation became particularly unsettling when Atmane discovered what the fan had done. After noticing supporters repeatedly outside his hotel, the Frenchman eventually had someone knock on the door of his room.

“Once in Rome, I was scared. I had noticed fans in front of my hotel all the time,” Atmane told L'Équipe.

Atmane shouts enthusiastically after advancing to the Cincinnati Open semifinals

Terence Atmane reached his first Masters 1000 semi-final in Cincinnati, overcoming two top 10 rivals (Fritz and Rune) along the way.

The fan had apparently found a way to keep track of Atmane even when he was away from the tournament. The player discovered that an AirTag had been placed inside a bag that had been left for him, allowing its location to be monitored.

“At one point, someone knocked on the door of my room. I discovered that he had put an AirTag, a tracking device, in a bag he had left for me,” Atmane said.

The episode did not result in any physical confrontation, but it gave Atmane a much clearer understanding of the potential risks that come with becoming a more recognizable player. The ability to track someone's belongings and locate their hotel room is a significant invasion of privacy, regardless of the intentions of the person involved.

From Cincinnati breakout to Top 50

Atmane's growing profile can largely be traced back to Cincinnati last year. He arrived at the Masters 1000 ranked No. 136 and had never broken into the ATP Top 100, but produced an extraordinary run that included wins over Flavio Cobolli, Joao Fonseca, Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune.

His run ended in the semifinals against eventual champion Jannik Sinner, but the impact on his career was immediate. Atmane climbed rapidly through the rankings and reached the Top 70 before continuing his progression in 2026.

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He reached a career-high No. 41 only weeks ago and now sits at No. 45, but Cincinnati presents a significant ranking challenge. Around one-third of his current ranking points are tied to last year's semifinal run, meaning an early defeat could see him fall towards the Top 90.

Atmane has already made a winning start this week after Marton Fucsovics retired while trailing 3-1. He will now face No. 26 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

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The Frenchman is still searching for his first ATP title after winning five Challenger trophies, but his progress has already included three Top 10 victories. His latest came at the Miami Open, where he defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the fourth round and make the second week of a Masters 1000 for the second time in his career.

A year after Cincinnati turned Atmane into one of the ATP Tour's breakout names, the tournament once again represents an important moment in his career. But his story away from the court is also becoming harder to ignore, with the bizarre Rome incident offering a reminder of the less comfortable side of a player's growing fame.

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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