Zheng and Muchova also put on a show in the Palermo trophy showdown
©Nicolas Gouhier / FFTLeading lights across the tours retuned to the terre battue this week, hoping for clay silverware success. Some have Paris Olympic rings on their mind, others have momentum as the key prize.
The 'King of Clay' thrilled his usual ubiquitous supporters, there were also titles in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden and Stateside. Let's take a look at the key headlines…
Up against a raucous home crowd, the defending champion and fending off cramp – Arthur Fils' Hamburg triumph on Sunday night was an almighty achievement.
His bout with Alexander Zverev built to a thrilling crescendo and after saving 21 of 22 break points, the brave, front-foot striking Fils prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(1) for his maiden ATP 500 silverware and second career title.
“I knew from the start it was not going to be easy," said Fils, following the three-and-a-half-hour battle.
“I knew it was going to be just a fight, like a dogfight. You just have to fight until the last point, until the last ball. I think that I'm practising since a long time for this kind of moment so I'm really happy to win it.“
As a reward, the 20-year-old – who dispatched fellow seeds [2] Holger Rune and [3] Sebastian Baez in straight sets along the way – will rise for a Top 20 rankings debut on Monday.
The heat was on for Nuno Borges. Featuring in his first ATP Final, the Portuguese had to take on 14-time Roland-Garros champion Rafael Nadal on clay.
Undeterred, the No.7 seed dominated proceedings from start to finish 6-3, 6-2 to lift the trophy by the Swedish coast in Bastad.
Falling to his knees in disbelief, it was Borges' day.
“I don’t know what to say. I think I was wishing for this moment for a while already,” said the 27-year-old, heading to a career-high world No.42 on Monday.
“It’s crazy, in tennis it doesn’t happen when you expect it sometimes. I know we all wanted Rafa to win, a part of me wished that too, but something even bigger inside of me really pushed through all the emotions, through all the ups and downs.
“It wasn’t about playing my best tennis, it was just coming up in the big moments where I wanted, and I couldn’t have played better. I’m just really happy overall. I'm very emotional.”
As for Nadal, the champion back in 2005 personified longevity once again with his crowd-cajoling heroics. He blazed hot shots en route to the doubles semi-finals alongside Casper Ruud, he dismissed No.5 seed Cameron Norrie in straight sets, prior to heavy marathon victories over Mariano Navone and Duje Ajdukovic.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion was a mixed bag, with flashes of all-time great excellence, as well as plenty of uncharacteristic misfiring shots. Ultimately, he reached his first singles final since winning Roland-Garros 2022 and the body held up.
“The level was so far from what it should be," said th 38-year-old, targeting match practice ahead of the Paris Olympics later this month onsite at Roland-Garros.
“Probably the energy too. It has been a long week with long matches. Even if my body, I don't have damage, that's important, but mentally and physically, I am not used to playing four days in a row and playing long matches.
“I played the final, that's positive. I was able to play long matches without having an injury, that's good.“
Top seed Zheng Qinwen defended her title in Palermo, Sicily, with a scintillating final over the net from Roland-Garros 2023 runner-up Karolina Muchova.
The rallies were from the highest tier, as the Chinese superstar edged the No.2 seed 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 for a third WTA title. On this evidence, Zheng is going to be entrenched in the Top 10 for many years and it won't take long for Muchova to rebound from wrist issues.
Meanwhile, over in Budapest, Hungary, Diana Shnaider ousted Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4, 6-4 for a clay trophy lift. As a result, the 20-year-old is the youngest player to complete a surface title sweep (hard, grass, clay) in a single year since a 19-year-old Caroline Wozniacki chalked up this rare feat in 2009.
Back where it all began, with a maiden ATP champion's moment in 2018, Matteo Berrettini ruled Gstaad once again on Sunday.
This time, the resurgent Italian – erasing rust from an undulating 12 months with injuries – blazed past qualifier Quentin Halys 6-3, 6-1 in the Swiss Alps in just 59 minutes for a ninth career title.
”It feels unbelievable. It feels like it was yesterday that I won my first title here six years ago, but a lot of matches and a lot of things happened,” said the 28-year-old, back in the Top 50 for the first time since August last summer.
”I’m just so glad that I can keep playing and enjoying, and I think I found the energy of six years ago during this week. This place is special for me. I’m just so happy.”
Later on Sunday, on the hallowed turf at the International Hall of Fame Open in Newport, USA, American Marcos Giron finally collected his first ATP title.
The 30-year-old erased Championship point in the decider to eventually fend off countryman Alex Michelsen 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5 to claim his previously elusive prize. ”Better late than never. We'll take it!”
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
