Last year, the Italians ended the season by winning the most titles on the Tour, largely thanks to Jannik Sinner. Despite the world No. 1’s absence—currently banned until Rome for a minor drug offence—the Italians are on track to emulate last year’s total of 13 by collecting two titles on Sunday.
The support has been amazing since Round 1 of qualifying. Thank you, everybody. I’ve loved the support here and it’s great to be back in Texas. Jenson Brooksby
First, Luciano Darderi picked up the second title of his career, the Grand Prix Hassan II title in Marrakech, defeating the fancied top seed Tallon Griekspoor of Holland 7-6(3) 7-6(4) after a tight match, saving three of the four break points he faced during the two-hour, three-minute final.
Seeded seventh, the 23-year-old Italian, who has recently played Challenger events to rebuild his confidence, went through the week without dropping a set and, as a result of his run, will rise from 57 to 48 in the world rankings.
“The past months were really difficult for me, but I fought every day for this moment,” a delighted Darderi said. “It is my second title. My first time in Marrakech; it’s an amazing place. I’m very happy and I have to say thank you to all the Italians here and all the people watching. It is very nice to play with this atmosphere.”
He added: “Tallon is an amazing player. You never know what’s going to happen. 7-6, 7-6 is really tough. It was a really difficult match, but I’m really happy about today.”
Flavio Cobolli on his way to winning the Bucharest title
(Photo by Alex Nicodim/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Earlier in the day, in Romania, his countryman Flavio Cobolli won the Tiriac Open event in Bucharest by defeating Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, the top seed, 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 46 minutes in cold and damp conditions for his first career title.
The 22-year-old Italian from Florence required seven championship points to complete a dream title run at the clay-court tournament, eventually prevailing in a big-hitting baseline battle with the title favourite.
“I feel great. I feel happy. It’s a big dream come true for my career,” said Cobolli, world ranked at 45. “I always dreamed of winning an ATP tournament, and it has happened today. I’m really happy to be here and to have reached my best result ever. I came from a tough moment. I had not won a match before this tournament this year, and I won the tournament. So I’m really happy about it.”
While the scoreline suggests a reasonably comfortable victory, that was far from the case.
The Italian struck the ball with increasing aggression, particularly off his forehand wing. He maintained pressure in the second set and soon led by a double-break at 5-2 only for nerves to hinder him.
Cobolli let slip three championship points on serve at 5-2 and another three on return at 5-3; however, there was nothing that battling Baez could do to deny his opponent in the next game. Cobolli produced a classy lob on his seventh championship point before falling to the clay in celebration.
“To play against Seb on the clay is always tough,” Cobolli acknowledged. “For me, he is one of the best on clay right now. He has already won many titles on it, so it’s a great fight and a great day for me.”
Jenson Brooksby proudly displays the first trophy of his career, won in Houston
(Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, in Houston, Texas, Jenson Brooksby capped an incredible week by claiming the US Men’s Clay Court Championships as a qualifier!
The 24-year-old Californian defeated the second seed Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-2 in just 87 minutes, concluding what had been a remarkable week where he saved match points in three matches—one in the qualifying first round, then in the main draw, three in the second round against third seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, and one against top seed Tommy Paul in the semi-finals.
“Thank you to my team. All the way from qualifying, match point down,” Brooksby said during the trophy ceremony. “That’s pretty intense, so thanks for sticking with it, every match, every day here for me.”
He added: “The support has been amazing since Round 1 of qualifying. Thank you, everybody. I’ve loved the support here, and it’s great to be back in Texas.”
Having entered the week ranked 507, Brooksby is the third-lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history (since 1990) but will now leap more than 335 places to 172.
In 2023, Brooksby underwent arthroscopic surgery on both of his wrists in a three-month span. He made his return to competition this year at the Australian Open.
Tiafoe was bidding to become the fourth man to win multiple titles at the event since it moved to Houston in 2001—after Andy Roddick (2001-02, 2005), Juan Monaco (2012, 2016), and Steve Johnson (2017-18).
As the three 250-level events came to a close, the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters got underway in Monaco with three first-round matches being played while the qualifying competition was completed.
In that qualifying competition, Britain’s former No. 1 Cameron Norrie was eliminated in the first round by Mattia Belluci of Italy 6-4 2-6 6-2, leaving Jack Draper as the only Brit competing in the main draw.
For the record, the three first-round singles matches played on Sunday saw Jordan Thompson of Australia defeat the big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricano 6-4 6-3, the home wildcard Valentin Vacherov take out the veteran German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2 6-1, while another veteran, the popular Frenchman Richard Gasquet, a wildcard entry, eventually dispatched Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 4-6 6-4.
