Madrid begins and Teichmann, Sakkari take titles

Madrid is on next week for both the ATP and WTA. In fact while other tournaments have been, and are still being contested in various parts of the world, main draw matches in Madrid have already commenced for the women.

For the men, Madrid is the second Masters 1000 tournament on the clay for 2019, while for the women it is the third Premier Mandatory tournament for the year, the only one on clay. However, there have been two Premier category tournaments held on the dirt, leading up to Madrid - Charleston on green clay and Stuttgart.

Before detailing Madrid, an update on the four tournaments held this week.

J&T Banka Prague Open - a WTA International category tournament, on Red Clay, in Prague, Czech Republic,  27 April - 4 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Petra Kvitová (2) who defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu (7) 4-6 6-2 6-3

FINAL 

- Qualifier Jil Teichmann defeated wildcard Karolina Muchova 7-6(5) 3-6 6-4 to claim the title. Jil is the first qualifier ever to win the event, and for a player that had never before been past the quarter finals of a WTA tournament, the win was a major breakthrough. The victory takes her ranking up 59 spots to a career high of 87, previously 132. Muchova also takes a leap up the rankings from her first appearance in a WTA final. She moves forward 32 places to 74, a career high, previously 102.

Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem (Morocco Open) - a WTA International category tournament, on Red Clay, in Rabat, Morocco, 29 April - 4 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Elise Mertens (1) who defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2 7-6(4)

FINAL 

- Maria Sakkari (6) defeated Johanna Konta (7) 2-6 6-4 6-1 to lift her first WTA trophy and become the 21st woman to triumph on the tour this year from 22 events. Only Petra Kvitová has taken home the chocolates more than once. The first set was the only one dropped all week by the talented Greek player, who could be part of an historic weekend for her nation should compatriot Stefanos Tsitsipas triumph in the Estoril final. With the win Sakkari jumps back into the top forty and is on track to soon return to her career high of 29.

Millennium Estoril Open - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Estoril, Portugal,  29 April - 5 May 2019.

Defending champion:

João Sousa who defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-4

SEMI FINALS 

- Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) defeated wildcard David Goffin (4) 3-6 6-4 6-4

Coming from a set down this was a courageous victory for the Greek top ten player. The second set saw seven service breaks, and Tsitsipas survived two break points when serving for it. He was in trouble in the decider, down 1-2 and 0-40, but toughed that out, and finds himself in prime position for a third ATP title.

- Lucky loser Pablo Cuevas defeated qualifier Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-6 6-2 6-2

This is the first final for the Uruguayan since São Paulo 2017. His young talented Spanish opponent tested him early but experience ultimately told, and the physicality introduced by Cuevas wore down Fokina. 

BMW Open by FWU (Bavarian International Tennis Championships) - an ATP 250 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Munich, Germany, 29 April - 5 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (1) who defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber (6) 6-3 6-3

SEMI FINALS 

- Cristian Garin defeated Marco Cecchinato (3) 6-2 6-4, continuing his killing off of seeds this week, following the carve up of Schwartzman (6) and Zverev (1). This will be the third ATP final for Garin this year, having lost the final in São Paulo to Pella, but winning in Houston over Ruud.

- The second semi between Roberto Bautista Agut (4) and Matteo Berrettini will be held on finals day, because of persistent rain delaying play.