Terence back on track!

Atmane is WC this week, a pressure he’ll have to handle, and for him it’s anything but simple.

And yes, that’s the big factor to take into account in this matchup: how Atmane manages stress! The Frenchman is often tense, anxious, and prone to cramping when he plays big matches. We remember his French Open or other matches where he fell apart and couldn’t play his game. I think that’s why he did well in the U.S. when no one expected him and he started from qualifying—time to ease into it and no pressure as the underdog. This time he’ll have to face his demons: he’s a WC, we’re in Paris, and he’s favored in his first round—huge, huge pressure. He’s also coming in without rhythm; he retired in Shanghai and in his return in Vienna he lost 3 and 1 to McDonald. I won’t lie to you, I’m really worried for him. The little stroke of luck is he drew a qualifier, and not the worst one, I think. Vukic isn’t scary, but he’s super solid: impeccable serve, a neutral flat backhand that doesn’t give much away, a reliable forehand he can really flatten out—he’s a serious, disciplined guy. He played one match in qualies and then benefited from Opelka’s withdrawal. He gives me a bit more assurance physically or in how he’ll manage this match; like I said, it’s not flashy, but he rarely blows it, and you know you can count on him. Atmane, on the other hand, is all fire and brimstone—high risk, but a high ceiling. So, who do we end up siding with?