By Reuters
Frenchman Terence Atmane made sure Jannik Sinner had a 24th birthday to remember, gifting the world number one a Pokemon card before going on to lose their semi-final meeting at the Cincinnati Open on Saturday.
Top seed and defending champion Sinner ended qualifier Atmane鈥檚 run at the Masters 1000 tournament with a 7-6(4) 6-2 win.
Before the match, the pair were seen talking to each other in the tunnel leading onto centre court, where Atmane handed over the collectable based on the hit Japanese video game series and TV show.
鈥淚t鈥檚 his birthday today so I had to give him a little something,鈥 Atmane told reporters.
鈥淚 was thinking last night about what I should give to him. I was like, 鈥業 think I still have some Pokemon cards that I brought from France. Why not give him just a Pokemon card?鈥 I鈥檓 a Pokemon card collector.
I think this is the perfect gift.
鈥淚f that was my birthday, I would be so happy that someone gave me a Pokemon card.鈥 Sinner, who was also serenaded with 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥 by the cro