Terence Atmane Denied Treatment as Physio Insists He Was Suffering from Cramps in Bizarre US Open Defeat – “Stop Acting Stupid”

It’s the first day of the US Open, and there have already been moments that have become the talk of the town. The biggest shock of the day was 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic‘s five-set defeat to Mariano Navone, which marked the third time he lost in the first round of a Major.

Djokovic struggled physically during that match, and so did Terence Atmane during his first-round clash with Jaume Munar. Atmane was two sets to love up when he suddenly stopped moving and clasped his right thigh in pain.

The Frenchman started limping and somehow reached his chair before calling for a physio and getting some treatment. But his opponent protested, saying, “We all know, and now what?,” to the chair umpire.

Munar won that set as well as the fourth one. And when he was 2-1 in the decider, his opponent stopped the match once again and called for the physio. But to his utter disappointment, the physio refused to provide treatment, citing cramps as the reason he declined.

Atmane insisted, “It is pain, not cramp” several times, but to no avail. He then said, “Stop acting stupid and treat me, I have pain, pain.” What was more, the 24-year-old asked the trainer to show his credentials to learn his name, but this request was declined as well.

Watch the video here:

Tense scenes between Terence Atmane & the physio during his match against Munar at the U.S. Open

The physio will not treat him for an injury because he insists Terence is suffering from cramps.

Terence argued with him, but the physio still would not treat him.

“Excuse me, can… pic.twitter.com/c8NFZKcAEB

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 30, 2026

Atmane eventually lost the match 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4), 7-5. It was the first time they faced each other.

Players are not allowed to receive treatment for cramps, which makes this rule controversial. There have been calls to allow treatment for players dealing with cramps, particularly after every Jannik Sinner cramping episode.

His arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz told a physio he was dealing with a muscle injury when he cramped during the semifinal versus Alexander Zverev at this year’s Australian Open, prompting Sascha to exclaim, “You cannot be serious!” to the match supervisor.

Jaume Munar could meet Daniil Medvedev in the third round

Terence Atmane suffered another first-round exit in a Grand Slam tournament. He has so far made the main draw rounds of Major events seven times, and in every event, his run ended in the first round. Atmane, in fact, made his US Open main draw debut this season.

Jaume Munar, on the other hand, has made the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament just once, at last year’s US Open. This year at the Grand Slam events, he lost in the second round of the Australian Open, the first round of the French Open and the third round of Wimbledon. The 29-year-old has never won a tour-level title in singles, reaching a final just once, at the 2021 Andalucia Open.

In the second round of the ongoing event, the Spaniard will lock horns with Arthur Rinderknech, another Frenchman. Rinderknech beat Sho Shimabukuro in the previous round.

The winner of the match could face a former US Open champion in the third round: Daniil Medvedev. The Russian ace, who has been dealing with ups and downs this season, breezed past Hugo Gaston in the opening round and will face Sebastian Gorzny or Raphael Collignon in the second round.

Before arriving at Flushing Meadows, the former World No.1 lost to Martin Damm Jr. in the opening round of the Winston-Salem Open. Although he has suffered early exits in events this season, Medvedev also won the Brisbane International and the Dubai Tennis Championships. He also reached the final of the Indian Wells Masters, only to lose the match to World No.1 Jannik Sinner, who is not competing in New York due to a knee injury.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Opens Up About His New Documentary and Hints at Future Projects