Terence Atmane admits he deserved backlash after racket incident: “This kind of behavior has no place on court”:

Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 02:30

Atmane shouts enthusiastically after advancing to the Cincinnati Open semifinals

Terence Atmane has admitted that he deserved the criticism he received after throwing his racket into the stands during Shanghai qualifying, acknowledging that his recent behavior fell short of the standards expected of a professional tennis player.

The Frenchman returned to the courts at the Almaty Open with a straight-sets victory over Rinky Hijikata; he has now spoken openly about the incident and the difficulties he has faced in recent weeks, while also expressing his desire to start fresh.

The controversy unfolded during Atmane’s qualifying match against Bernard Tomic at the Shanghai Masters. Trailing 3-5 in the deciding set, the 24-year-old threw his racket into the stands before retiring from the match. Although the racket did not directly hit anyone, the footage quickly circulated online and drew widespread criticism from tennis fans.

The incident added to concerns about Atmane’s conduct on court, with the Frenchman also having retired late in a Challenger match in Jingshan. His visible frustration and repeated outbursts had attracted attention during a difficult period, as his results and behavior became increasingly inconsistent following the best stretch of his career.

Atmane accepts criticism and opens up about mental health struggles

Atmane returned to competition at the Almaty Open, where he made a winning start by defeating Rinky Hijikata 7-6, 6-2 in the first round.

Speaking after that victory, the Frenchman addressed the backlash surrounding the Shanghai incident, accepted responsibility for his actions and explained why the past few weeks had been particularly challenging. “I received a lot of hate after what happened in Shanghai," Atmane said as reported by Punto de Break. "It's normal: I deserved it. I have been behaving terribly lately."

The Frenchman acknowledged that he had been struggling mentally during what has been an exceptionally long season. “In these weeks, I have been struggling a lot mentally: it has been an extremely long season for me during which I have suffered from mental health issues, so it hasn’t been easy," the 24-year-old added. "Here in Almaty I am trying to leave that behind and start fresh."

Rather than dismissing the criticism, Atmane recognized the responsibility that comes with competing at the highest level of professional tennis. His actions in Shanghai were particularly concerning because of the potential danger of throwing a racket toward the spectators, even though nobody was directly struck.

“Shanghai showed me that this kind of behavior has no place on a tennis court at the highest level, as many people are watching me and supporting me," Atmane explained. "I want to apologize to all of them, as I feel that this is not the type of behavior I want to show the people."

Atmane also spoke about the support he has received from those closest to him, describing their backing as an important part of his effort to move forward. “I have been very disappointed in myself, but I am happy for all the people in my circle who have shown me that no matter what happens, they love me for who I am and will do everything possible to help me through this process."

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Atmane looks to rebuild his season in Almaty

The victory over Hijikata gives Atmane an opportunity to focus on his tennis again after a turbulent period. His next opponent in Almaty will be the winner of the match between sixth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Mattia Bellucci.

The result against Hijikata also lifted Atmane to No. 92 in the live ATP rankings, providing a boost as he attempts to consolidate his position inside the top 100. The Frenchman was ranked as high as No. 41 around a year ago, following his breakthrough run to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open in August 2025.

That campaign represented the high point of his career to date. Atmane recorded notable victories over Flavio Cobolli, João Fonseca, Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune before reaching the last four, where his run came to an end. Those results established him as a player capable of challenging some of the leading names on the ATP Tour.

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However, maintaining that level has proved difficult, and his ranking has since dropped considerably. With the season approaching its conclusion, the remaining tournaments offer a chance to collect valuable points and regain some consistency.

Atmane described Almaty as the first of his final four tournaments of the season and said he was excited about the opportunity ahead. After acknowledging the impact of his actions in Shanghai, he will now attempt to turn that admission into a more stable end to the year.

His opening win provides a positive starting point. The challenge will be to build on it, both in terms of results and the on-court conduct he has publicly committed to improving.

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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