Nurnberg - more results

More first round results in WTA tournaments in Germany.

Nurnberger Versicherungs Cup 2019 - a WTA International category tournament, on Red Clay, in Nurnberg, Germany, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Johanna Larsson who defeated Alison Riske 7-6(4) 6-4

First round 

- Wildcard Anna-Lena Friedsam defeated Irina-Camelia Begu 4-6 6-3 6-3

- Andrea Petkovic (8) defeated qualifier Cagla Buyukakcay 6-3 6-2

- Qualifier Nina Stojanovic defeated Alison Riske (4) 7-6(6) 2-6 6-2

- Qualifier Laura Ioana Paar defeated qualifier Quirine Lemoine 6-1 6-3

- Ekaterina Alexandrova (5) defeated qualifier Jana Cepelova 6-4 6-2

- Veronika Kudermetova defeated Vitalia Diatchenko 6-4 6-7(4) 6-2

- Tamara Zidansek defeated Misaki Doi 7-6(4) 3-6 6-4

- Ajla Tomljanovic (3) led Sabine Lisicki 6-2 1-2 before rain stopped play

- Kristyna Pliskova led qualifier Jule Niemeier 6-1 5-3 before rain stopped play

Geneva, Lyon - more results

More first round and a few second round results in ATP tournaments in Switzerland and France.

Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Geneva, Switzerland, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Márton Fucsovics who defeated Peter Gojowczyk 6-2 6-2

First round

- Federico Delbonis defeated qualifier Grigor Dimitrov 1-6 6-4 6-2

- João Sousa defeated Leonardo Mayer 6-2 6-7(6) 6-4

- Albert Ramos-Viñolas defeated Adrian Mannarino (6) 6-7(2) 6-3 6-2

- Qualifier Damir Dzumhur defeated wildcard Feliciano Lopez 6-7(2) 6-4 7-5

Second round 

- Alexander Zverev (1) defeated Ernests Gulbis 6-2 6-1

- Hugo Dellien defeated wildcard Janko Tipsarevic 7-6(3) 6-3

Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Lyon, France, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Dominic Thiem (1) who defeated Gilles Simon 3-6 7-6(2) 6-1

First round 

- Pablo Cuevas defeated Hubert Hurkacz (8) 6-4 6-4

- Benoit Paire defeated Mackenzie McDonald 3-6 7-6(5) 6-1

- Wildcard Corentin Moutet defeated Reilly Opelka 6-3 2-6 7-6(10)

Second round 

- Felix Auger-Aliassime (4) defeated John Millman 7-6(3) 7-5

- Steve Johnson defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert (7) 7-6(6) 5-7 6-1

Nurnberg, Strasbourg - early results

Early first round results in WTA tournaments in Germany and France.

Nurnberger Versicherungs Cup 2019 - a WTA International category tournament, on Red Clay, in Nurnberg, Germany, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Johanna Larsson who defeated Alison Riske 7-6(4) 6-4

First round 

- Yulia Putintseva (1) defeated Dalila Jakupovic 6-2 3-0 (retired)

- Sara Sorribes Tormo defeated Vera Lapko 7-6(9) 3-1 (retired)

- Madison Brengle defeated Evgeniya Rodina (7) 7-6(3) 6-3

- Mona Barthel defeated Paula Ormaechea 6-3 3-6 6-2

Internationaux de Strasbourg - a WTA International category tournament, on Red Clay, in Strasbourg, France, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (3) who defeated wildcard Dominika Cibulková (5) 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-6(6)

- Rebecca Peterson defeated Magda Linette 6-7(0) 6-1 6-3

- Zheng Saisai defeated Harmony Tan 7-6(4) 7-6(5)

- Fiona Ferro defeated Luksika Kumkhum 6-3 6-1

- Wang Qiang (3) defeated Jennifer Brady 6-4 6-3

- Wildcard Aryna Sabalenka (2) defeated Zhu Lin 6-0 6-1

- Wildcard Amandine Hesse defeated Wang Yafan 6-1 6-4

- Qualifier Han Xinyun defeated Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-0 6-2

- Chloe Paquet defeated Sofia Kenin (5) 6-3 6-3

- Qualifier Marta Kostyuk defeated qualifier Marie Benoit 6-4 6-1

- Dayana Yastremska (6) defeated Pauline Parmentier 6-2 6-4

- Samantha Stosur defeated Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-1

- Qualifier Astra Sharma defeated Zhang Shuai 6-4 6-1

- Monica Puig defeated Tatjana Maria 6-1 6-1

- Qualifier Laura Siegemund defeated qualifier Renata Zarazua 6-4 7-6(5)

- Caroline Garcia (4) and Shelby Rogers were tied at 4-6 6-4 when rain stopped play

Geneva, Lyon - early results

Early first round results in ATP tournaments in Switzerland and France.

Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Geneva, Switzerland, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Márton Fucsovics who defeated Peter Gojowczyk 6-2 6-2

First round

- Ernests Gulbis defeated Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2 7-6(7)

- Juan Ignacio Londero defeated Mischa Zverev 6-4 6-4

- Wildcard Janko Tipsarevic defeated Peter Gojowczyk 7-5 7-5

- Hugo Dellien defeated Andreas Seppi (8) 6-1 3-6 6-4

- Nicolás Jarry defeated Matthew Ebden (7) 6-2 7-6(4)

- Denis Kudla defeated Jordan Thompson 5-7 6-2 6-4

- Taro Daniel defeated qualifier Bernabé Zapata Miralles 6-4 4-6 6-3

- Radu Albot (5) defeated qualifier Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(6) 7-6(3)

Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Lyon, France, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Dominic Thiem (1) who defeated Gilles Simon 3-6 7-6(2) 6-1

First round 

- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Dusan Lajovic (5) 7-6(4) 6-4

- John Millman defeated Pablo Andújar 6-1 6-3

- Lucky loser Tristan Lamasine defeated qualifier Jannik Sinner 6-0 7-6(5)

- Qualifier Steven Diez defeated Bernard Tomic 6-4 4-1 (retired)

- Steve Johnson defeated lucky loser Lloyd Harris 6-2 7-6(2)

- Pierre-Hugues Herbert (7) defeated Jeremy Chardy 6-2 7-5

- Ugo Humbert defeated Cameron Norrie 6-1 6-3

- Wildcard Richard Gasquet (6) defeated qualifier Maxime Janvier 6-7(5) 6-2 7-6(2)

- Taylor Fritz defeated qualifier Jiri Vesely 7-5 7-6(3)

Pliskova wins Rome - Nurnberg, Strasbourg this week

Karolina Pliskova was victorious in Rome, lifting the trophy in the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. She defeated Johanna Konta In the final 6-3 6-4, and jumps to number two in the world rankings as a result. This is vital for Roland Garros seedings because now it will put her at the very bottom of the draw and avoid potential clashes with Osaka, Halep and Bertens until at least the semi finals.

Before then there are two tournaments on the WTA Tour being played this week.

Nurnberger Versicherungs Cup 2019 - a WTA International category tournament, on Red Clay, in Nurnberg, Germany, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Johanna Larsson who defeated Alison Riske 7-6(4) 6-4

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

- Katie Boulter replaced by Paula Ormaechea 

- Margarita Gasparyan replaced by Misaki Doi 

- Julia Goerges replaced by Kristyna Pliskova 

- Polona Hercog replaced by Sorana Cîrstea 

- Taylor Townsend replaced by Vitalia Diatchenko

Yulia Putintseva, world number 38, is top seed.

The other 7 seeds are all in the top 69

The top 2 seeds have first round byes 

Internationaux de Strasbourg - a WTA International category tournament, on Red Clay, in Strasbourg, France, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (3) who defeated wildcard Dominika Cibulková (5) 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-6(6)

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

- Mihaela Buzărnescu replaced by Zhu Lin

- Alizé Cornet replaced by Magda Linette 

- Camila Giorgi replaced by Luksika Kumkhum 

- Aleksandra Krunic replaced by Fiona Ferro 

- Petra Martic replaced by Jessica Pegula

- Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova replaced by Shelby Rogers

Ashleigh Barty, world number 8, is top seed.

The other 7 seeds are all in the top 50

There are no byes 

Nadal wins Rome - Geneva, Lyon this week

Rafa Nadal triumphed in Rome for the ninth time, winning the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. He defeated Novak Djokovic 6-0 4-6 6-1

While Nadal and most of the elite take a short break and prepare themselves for Roland Garros in a fortnight, the ATP Tour rolls on, and two tournaments are happening this week.

Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Geneva, Switzerland, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Márton Fucsovics who defeated Peter Gojowczyk 6-2 6-2

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

- Matteo Berrettini replaced by Denis Kudla 

- Laslo Djere replaced by Albert Ramos-Viñolas 

- Fabio Fognini replaced by Alexander Zverev 

- Robin Haase replaced by Mischa Zverev 

- Malek Jaziri replaced by Federico Delbonis 

- Philipp Kohlschreiber replaced by Peter Gojowczyk 

- Daniil Medvedev replaced by Taro Daniel 

- Jaume Munar replaced by Cristian Garín 

- Guido Pella replaced by Nicolás Jarry 

Alexander Zverev, world number 5, is top seed.

The other 7 seeds are all in the top 66

The top 4 seeds have first round byes. 

Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Lyon, France, 19-25 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Dominic Thiem (1) who defeated Gilles Simon 3-6 7-6(2) 6-1

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

- Tomas Berdych replaced by Benoit Paire 

- John Isner replaced by Pablo Andújar

- Jan-Lennard Struff replaced by Ugo Humbert  

Nikoloz Basilashvili, world number 18, is top seed.

The other 7 seeds are all in the top 41

The top 4 seeds have first round byes. 

Rome - men’s semi finals

Men’s semi finals in Rome.

Internazionali BNL d'Italia - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Rome, Italy, 11-19 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Rafa Nadal (1) who defeated Alexander Zverev (2) 6-1 1-6 6-3

- Novak Djokovic (1) v Diego Schwartzman

In both of the two matches previously played between the two, Djokovic had won, most recently at Roland Garros in 2017, where Schwartzman led two sets to one before losing in five.

For seven games in the Rome semi final, Schwartzman was again impressive, winning his first two games to love, and forcing Djokovic to work hard to win points. Neither player faced a break point in this period.

Djokovic pounced in the eighth game as Schwartzman struggled to land his first serve. The break came, and Djokovic converted the second of three set points when serving at 5-3 in the next game. 6-3 to the world number one.

Schwartzman, after five competitive games of set two produced no break opportunities, broke the Djokovic serve, leading to a sequence of assaults on the person at the line. Four successive service breaks, including when Schwartzman served for the set at 5-3, eventually led to a tie break at 6-6.

Djokovic led 2-1 on serve in the tie break, but Schwartzman then took over completely, winning the next six points and levelling the match at 3-6 6-7(2).

The decider was decidedly miserly, permitting one solitary break point to be issued, this to Djokovic in the sixth game. This was hungrily lapped up and converted into a service break and Djokovic kept it close to him until serving out the match.

Novak Djokovic won 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3.

- Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Rafa Nadal (2)

Nadal led in the head to head battle prior to this match 3-1. Two of those matches had been contested this year - Nadal won in the Australian Open semis in January, and only last week, Tsitsipas recorded a famous victory in the Madrid semi final.

In Rome this time, Nadal broke for a 2-0 lead and then immediately was on the back foot, having to save two break chances himself.

No further break chances occurred, therefore presenting Nadal with the opening set 6-3.

In game three of set two, Tsitsipas led 30-15, but Nadal brought it back, winning the next two points to have a break point. This was saved, as was a second, and the young Greek star even earned a game point. Ultimately though Nadal converted his third break point to lead 2-1.

That represented the first and final threat to serve in set two, and at 5-4 Nadal delivered a love game to win the match.

Rafa Nadal won 6-4 6-4 and would play Novak Djokovic in the final.