The Base Line: Navarro finds form ahead of French Open as Buse wins first ATP title

[p][b][a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vwlepAL3UWyx5znHURWS8?si=ZACGiA5xRbGsoGxWsi7KQw&nd=1&dlsi=10948444b62d4ae8"]You can listen to this article now via Spotify[/a].[/b][/p][h2]Title winners[/h2][p]It was a vitally important week for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/navarro-emma/WxLdKcAs/"]Emma Navarro[/a] in Strasbourg, with the former world number eight capturing her maiden clay-court title after a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mboko-v-AqVez8TJ/navarro-e-WxLdKcAs/?mid=ryuKEPtR"]6-0, 5-7, 6-2[/a] triumph over top-seeded Canadian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mboko-victoria/AqVez8TJ/"]Victoria Mboko[/a]. [/p][p]Having endured a frustrating start to the season, battling health issues and several early exits from tournaments, the American rediscovered her groove at the WTA 500 event in France.[/p][p][b]Navarro dispatched rising stars [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bejlek-sara/jVCKq0LH/"]Sara Bejlek[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jovic-iva/bmWvBlnL/"]Iva Jovic[/a] in the opening couple of rounds, and then took her game to the next level in an impressive win over world number nine Mboko.[/b][/p][p]The 25-year-old won 74% of points behind her first delivery and saved seven of 10 break points to earn her third career WTA title - and a first piece of silverware in 15 months.[/p][embed guid="4cbffb39-28f3-4c73-9325-3b0a1fec69fb" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbFpciCplrg" social-type="youtube" /][p]Navarro next faces [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tjen-janice/ngVYO2lo/"]Janice Tjen[/a] in the first round at Roland Garros, where her best performance is a run to the fourth round in 2024.[/p][p][b]Over in Hamburg, Peru’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/buse-ignacio/A1LQjAPb/"]Ignacio Buse[/a] stunned sixth seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paul-tommy/pd3ye1BS/"]Tommy Paul[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/buse-i-A1LQjAPb/paul-t-pd3ye1BS/?mid=fitdPFfn"]7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3[/a] in a topsy-turvy final, securing a landmark first-ever ATP crown in the process.[/b][/p][p]The 22-year-old qualifier also downed the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cobolli-flavio/zDtaCcPe/"]Flavio Cobolli[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humbert-ugo/O4ywE5Ah/"]Ugo Humbert[/a] in an eye-catching run to the ATP 500 title. [/p][p]Despite receiving treatment for dizziness early in the match against Paul, Buse rallied remarkably well to outlast his American opponent in a gruelling three-hour contest.[/p][p][b]"It's emotional for my family,"[/b] Buse said. [b]"So many people involved ​that I cannot describe. This is for them. I feel extremely happy. It's the best feeling in my entire life ​for sure. I feel incredibly happy.”[/b][/p][image alt="Buse vs Paul stats" id="3bd1b0f6-fb57-494c-b636-bc86797e4e8c" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="57743f18-4770-4075-9235-80b03f3b35d5" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Buse is the first Peruvian winner on the ATP Tour since Luis Horna at the Chilean Open in 2007, setting him up perfectly for a first-round meeting with world number 13 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rublev-andrey/AeAn4gP0/"]Andrey Rublev[/a] in Paris.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tien-learner/xUHOBJK6/"]Learner Tien[/a] also warmed up for the French Open with silverware, as the rising star recovered from a set down to beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/navone-mariano/YoPUeL3o/"]Mariano Navone[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/navone-m-YoPUeL3o/tien-l-xUHOBJK6/?mid=84JzRJC7"]3-6, 6-3, 7-5[/a] in the Geneva final.[/b][/p][p]Seeded fourth at the ATP 250 event, the 20-year-old continued his impressive recent form on clay, having never previously won consecutive Tour matches on the surface before the Italian Open.[/p][p]Tien’s victory over Navone saw him become the youngest American man to claim a European clay-court title since his coach, Michael Chang, won Roland Garros in 1989.[/p][image alt="Learner Tien celebrates with the winner's trophy" id="7053060f-39bb-4fba-8864-5ab427aff9f4" credit-line="FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP" guid="1e97f8f8-6838-4445-8b65-8e8a2a3a1a03" original-width="5000" original-height="3333" /][p]Finally, in Rabat, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/petra-marcinko/2J180sTE/"]Petra Marcinko[/a] secured a maiden title on the WTA Tour after her opponent, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kalinina-anhelina/zNoTPac0/"]Anhelina Kalinina[/a], was forced to retire midway through the final.[/p][p][b]The 20-year-old Croatian, who was leading [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/kalinina-a-zNoTPac0/petra-m-2J180sTE/?mid=0bzYOcUh"]6-2, 3-0[/a] at the time of Kalinina’s retirement, had never reached a WTA quarter-final before the 250 event in the Moroccan capital.[/b][/p][p]Marcinko is now set for a career-high ranking of 51, and will face talented German [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lys-eva/v93ljkqM/"]Eva Lys[/a] in the French Open first round.[/p][embed guid="42de2c9f-d32e-4f47-84dc-0c5c4b9cd4de" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2058173234671956329" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Biggest strugglers[/h2][p]World number six [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shelton-ben/QNuG0Gzb/"]Ben Shelton[/a] has failed to build on his clay-court triumph in Munich last month, falling to three defeats in his last four matches.[/p][p][b]His latest loss came against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/altmaier-daniel/IPR8h9gM/"]Daniel Altmaier[/a] in Hamburg, with the American committing 43 unforced errors and winning just 60% of points behind his first serve in an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/altmaier-d-IPR8h9gM/shelton-b-QNuG0Gzb/?mid=YujPZhGL"]erratic display[/a]. [/b][/p][p]Shelton, who will fancy his chances of a deep run at Roland Garros given the notable absentees from the draw, faces Spain’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/daniel-merida-aguilar/WOtXbAu5/"]Daniel Merida Aguilar[/a] in the opening round.[/p][embed guid="1f91128c-512e-4750-b7bd-baaef22a0f17" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE6BfHSYj_g" social-type="youtube" /][p]Meanwhile, on the WTA Tour, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tauson-clara/2PPTHPya/"]Clara Tauson[/a]’s struggles continue, with the Dane suffering another early exit after a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/cristian-j-a-vo9FVe2A/tauson-c-2PPTHPya/?mid=GCyOhMZj"]6-1, 7-5[/a] loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cristian-jaqueline/vo9FVe2A/"]Jaqueline Cristian[/a] in Strasbourg.[/p][p]Having ended 2025 at a career-high No. 12 in the world, Tauson has slid down the rankings this year after several disappointing defeats and retirements through injury. [/p][p][b]The 21-year-old has admitted she is dealing with persistent back pain, and with a significant lack of match rhythm heading into the French Open, a first-round meeting with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/snigur-daria/YuOTpKxj/"]Daria Snigur[/a] could well prove problematic.[/b][/p][embed guid="d5e6efc5-4686-433f-8b96-a03fab282ae7" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2057063262299009182" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Standout moment[/h2][p]This year’s French Open marks the final appearance for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-gael/fm7G8o0m/"]Gael Monfils[/a] at his home Grand Slam, bringing an end to a memorable two-decade journey on the ATP Tour.[/p][p]A two-time major semi-finalist and one of the sport’s great showmen, Monfils took centre stage on Thursday, hosting a typically lively exhibition event on Court Philippe-Chatrier for 'Gael & Friends'. [/p][p]The star-studded farewell party featured his wife, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a], as well as legendary players such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Naomi Osaka[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a].[/p][embed guid="c7c18a88-4b8f-4bc8-b3ae-7c9c23f1b670" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2057551940376998107" social-type="twitter" /][p]Monfils, who plans to retire after the 2026 season, is one of several ATP veterans to bid farewell to the Tour this year, including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wawrinka-stan/Uo9lu6le/"]Stan Wawrinka[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nishikori-kei/YNkOjUIB/"]Kei Nishikori[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/goffin-david/bqic8RxG/"]David Goffin[/a]. [/p][p][b]"Of course, now that I'm finishing, I think I will see a bit more,"[/b] Monfils explained to the press on his influence in the sport.[/p][p][b] "I think when you're in it, it's tough to look a little bit around how much influence that you have. When I hear that, I'm very grateful, if I inspired some players.”[/b][/p][h2]Best rallies[/h2][p]A simply sensational match point from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-minaur-alex/EZgZ9Xfh/"]Alex De Minaur[/a] in his victory over Luciano Darderi in Hamburg![/p][embed guid="d867ef5d-9541-4f0f-8006-9b6208605d24" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2057557666977738948" social-type="twitter" /][p]Despite going on to lose the match, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kabbaj-yasmine/6sR0zPpf/"]Yasmine Kabbaj[/a] came out on top in this thrilling exchange with Jil Teichmann in Rabat.[/p][embed guid="4b007d8d-0828-4207-a71c-a38fa94b511f" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2057516762329940132" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Upcoming events[/h2][p]All attention now shifts to Roland Garros, as the first round of the French Open gets underway on Sunday.[/p][p]The men's side of the tournament in Paris has been decimated by injury, with defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a], home favourite [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arthur-fils/IoIhUqIN/"]Arthur Fils[/a], and mercurial Italian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musetti-lorenzo/xtH2ODVI/"]Lorenzo Musetti[/a] all absent.[/p][p][b]Those withdrawals have left Sinner as the overwhelming favourite to complete a Career Grand Slam, although Djokovic is never one to underestimate, as the Serb eyes a 25th major title.[/b][/p][p]The women's event is full of intrigue, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] looking to defend her crown, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] will provide plenty of competition in a stacked draw.[/p][p][b]Check out the full [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/french-open/"]men's[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/wta-singles/french-open/"]women's[/a] draws via the links![/b][/p][image alt="Danny Clark" id="d70ce36c-308b-41f9-b7a0-8c8d6eab1090" credit-line="Flashscore News" guid="cc83011b-82ab-4261-a930-c96b8d193056" original-width="1154" original-height="380" /]