Martinez Sanchez wins Italian Open

ROME: Unfancied Maria Martinez-Sanchez produced a stunning display of old school tennis, full of spin and guile, to upset seventh seed Jelena Jankovic 7-6(5), 7-5 to win the WTA Rome Open on Saturday.

Mikhail Youzhny also found success over the weekend, winning the BMW Open in Munich beating Marin Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the final.

Albert Montanes, who beat Roger Federer in the semifinals, capped off a fine run at the Estoril Open by winning the title there beating Frederico Gil 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5 in the final.

Sam Querrey won an all-American final at the Serbian Open in Belgrade, rallying to beat John Isner 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.

Biggest win

The victory was the biggest of the Martinez Sanchez's career and only her third tournament title as she wowed the packed stands at the Foro Italico in a 2hr 20min thriller.

Her only two previous wins in Bogota and Bastaad, both last year, were at tournaments that are never attended by top players.

But this victory was remarkable for a doubles specialist who, at 27, has suddenly started to play the best tennis of her career.

“I still can't believe it, it's incredible, I'm so happy to have won this tournament,” said the new champion , who followed former Grand Slam winners Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Conchita Martinez as the third Spanish winner here.“This is a very important moment because I've been working so hard for this.

“But it hasn't sunk in yet that I'm a part of history because it hasn't had the time to. Maybe tomorrow or the day after it will.”

And the Serbian, a two-time winner here, said on court after the match: “I want to congratulate Maria, she played a great match.”

Sharapova, Henin lose

Czech Lucie Safarova handed Maria Sharapova a rude awakening on Sunday as the Russian returned to tennis with a 6-4, 6-3 loss at the Madrid Open.

Sharapova, winner of a title in Memphis this season, last played in March at Indian Wells, when she lost to China's Zheng Jie in the third round. But, an elbow injury had forced her out of action till now.

Justine Henin also crashed out in the first round, with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Aravane Rezai or France.

The results: At Rome (Italian International): Final: Maria Martinez-Sanchez bt Jelena Jankovic 7-6(5), 7-5.

At Munich (BMW Open): Final: Mikhail Youzhny bt Marin Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

At Estoril (Estoril Open): Final: Women: Anastasija Sevastova bt Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2, 7-5.

Men: Albert Montanes bt Frederico Gil 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5.

Semifinals: Albert Montanes bt Roger Federer 6-2, 7-6(5); Frederico Gil bt Guillermo Garcia Lopez 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

At Belgrade (Serbian Open): Final: Sam Querrey bt John Isner 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4. Semifinals: Sam Querrey bt Filip Krajinovic 6-1, 6-2.

At Madrid (Madrid Masters & Madrid Open): Men: First round: Ivo Karlovic bt Evgeny Korolev 6-4, 7-6(2); Juan Monaco bt Simon Gruel . Women: First round: Agnieszka Radwanska bt Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-2; Lucie Safarova bt Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3; Francesca Schiavone bt Alizé Cornet 6-2, 6-2; Aravane Rezai bt Justine Henin 4-6, 7-5, 6-0; Dominika Cibulkova bt Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-2; Alexandra Dulgheru bt Melinda Czink 6-1 retired.; Vera Dushevina bt Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 6-1; Olga Govortsova bt Tathiana Garbin 7-5, 6-2; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkoba bt Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 7-6(2) . — Agencies