Take Five: Frances Tiafoe finishes runner-up on clay in Estoril

1. Frances Tiafoe finishes as runner-up in Estoril

Frances Tiafoe played for an ATP singles title for the fourth time in his career last week in Estoril, Portugal, where he finished as runner-up to Argentina's Sebastian Baez.

Despite a 6-3, 6-2 defeat in the championship match, Tiafoe thrilled a packed house in each of his four wins to make in that far, where he was taken to three sets each time. In Round 1, he came from a set and a break down to defeat Serbia's Dusan Lajovic; beat Spain's Alejando Davidovich Fokina, the runner-up at the recent ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo, 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-5 from 5-2 down in the third; and produced one of the comebacks of the season so far to defeat compatriot Sebastian Korda in the semifinals. Against Korda, Tiafoe trailed 6-4, 5-2 before he rallied for a 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 victory, saving three match points. 

Though he lost the final, Tiafoe rocketed to a career-high world No. 25 in the ATP rankings by advancing to the final.

3. Three U.S. women through to Round 3 in Madrid

The ATP and WTA are both in action this week at the Mutua Madrid Open, a combined Masters 1000 and WTA 1000-event in in the Spanish capital, and three American women—Amanda Anisimova, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula—are through to the third round since main-draw play began on Thursday. 

Unseeded Anisimova had the trio's most notable win so far by dethroning defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the first round, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, improving her career record against Sabalenka to 4-0. She also came from a set down in her second round victory against Croatia's Petra Martic to book a spot opposite former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the last 16. 

No. 12 seed Pegula and No. 14 seed Gauff each counted a three-setter among their wins in the first two rounds; in particular, the latest chapter of Pegula's rivalry with Italy's Camila Giorgi went the American's way in thrilling fashion in Round 1. In a wild 7-5, 2-6, 6-5 victory for Pegula, Giorgi led 4-1 in the final set and had a chance to win the match serving at 5-3.

Pegula and Gauff join Anisimova in facing former major-winners up next: Gauff faces former world No. 1 Simona Halep, while Pegula takes on 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.

4. John Isner starts American men off with win in Madrid

With the men's main draw in Madrid starting on Sunday, the only player in action on the tournament's first day was John Isner—and he's through to Round 2.