Players competing at the Millennium Estoril Open this week will be sliding on the red clay, battling for a coveted ATP World Tour title. But before the main draw begins, some competitors were sliding around something else — a surfboard.

Portugal’s own Joao Sousa and British No. 1 Kyle Edmund took time out to learn how to catch some waves with a special instructor — world-class surfer Frederico ‘Kikas’ Morais, ranked No. 14 in the World Surf League.

“It’s not easy to get the time to do this kind of thing normally. It’s a great activity and to be with Frederico, it’s nice,” said Sousa. “He’s one of the greatest in the world. It’s a bit windy, which makes it difficult. But hopefully we’ll have some fun. It’s gonna be tough, but we’ll give our best.”

The players certainly enjoyed the experience at Carcavelos Beach, even if they might not be joining a professional surfing circuit any time soon.

“He gave us some tips to make it a little bit easier,” Sousa said. “But I’m not sure our physical condition is perfect for this kind of sport.”

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Edmund, who advanced to the Australian Open semi-finals before reaching the championship match in Marrakech, enjoyed his time on the water as well, saying that Morais had the pair practising getting up on the surfboard and settling into their stance.

“I’ve never surfed before, only done stuff like jet skis in the water before. So it’s my first time, but I’ve got no excuses because I’ve got a pretty good instructor,” Edmund said. “I’m pretty good with adventure sports. I like motorbiking, and loved the jet skiing. It’s a bit cold, that’s my only excuse! But I’m excited to give it a go and to try something out of my comfort zone.”

To start the day, the pair also played mini tennis at the brand new Nova School of Business and Economics. But after some pre-tournament fun, Edmund is excited to head back to the tennis court, where he looks to maintain the momentum he gained in Marrakech.

“It’s one of my aims, to get my first title. So it was great to reach a first final,” Edmund said of his run in Morocco. “I obviously wanted to go one step further, but the experience will serve me well. The next time I’m in a final, I’ll hopefully be able to use that loss to my benefit.”

It’s an especially important week for Sousa, who is playing in his home country of Portugal.

“It’s always a special week for me, playing at my home and in front of my people,” said Sousa, who made the semi-finals of Marrakech. “It’s been a good season so far and hopefully I can play a good level and play good matches.”

Marco Cecchinato clinched his first ATP World Tour title on Sunday, beating fellow first-time ATP World Tour finalist John Millman 7-5, 6-4 at the Gazprom Hungarian Open. The victory sees the 25-year-old Italian rise inside the Top 60 of the ATP Rankings for the first time and he becomes the first lucky loser to win an ATP World Tour title since Leonardo Mayer in Hamburg last year.

Afterwards, Cecchinato spoke to ATPWorldTour.com:

How does it feel to be holding your first ATP World Tour trophy?
It is amazing because the first title in my career is not possible to forget in my life. I am very happy because I lost last Sunday [in qualifying] and now I won the tournament. It is incredible. It is amazing. I don’t know, maybe it is a dream.

Was winning an ATP World Tour title something you always wanted to achieve when you decided to become a tennis player?
No. My dream was to be in the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings, but never [did] I think I would win an ATP World Tour title.

You beat some really tough opponents en route to the title, how do you feel?
Every match was tough. Today I was tired, because [I played] five matches in the main draw, plus two in qualifying… But the final is the final, it is one match and after [you get to] rest.

Now you have won an ATP World Tour title, what other goals do you have for the 2018 season?
I want to play every match like this, with the [same] level. Now I go [to my] best ATP Ranking, so [this moment] is very important for me. I want to play every match focussed… Now I need to work more every week; this is very important for me.

You will rise into the Top 60 of the ATP Rankings on Monday, how does that feel?
It is amazing, because this is my best ranking… I want to enjoy this title tonight with my girlfriend and my manager and that is it.

Is there anybody that you would like to acknowledge or thank for getting you to this milestone in your career?
Firstly, my family. My coach, my mother, my father and all the family because for me [family] is very important. Also my coach, my fitness coach and my manager. I have just started [a relationship] with my girlfriend so I also need to thank her.

Aside from tennis what are your favourite interests and hobbies?
Football. I like football so much. I watch every league, the Italian league, the German league and the Spanish league. This is my hobby. My favourite team is AC Milan.

You would be hard-pressed to find a more thrilling final on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2018. 

It was a highly-anticipated championship clash and it certainly did not disappoint, as 22-year-old Noah Rubin edged 20-year-old Marc Polmans 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 at the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger on Saturday. Rubin needed six match points to secure his fourth Challenger title – and first on clay – after two hours and eight minutes.

With Polmans serving to stay in the match at 5-4 in the decider, he refused to abandon his aggressive gameplan. The #NextGenATP Aussie escaped from a 0/40 deficit and survived two more championship points later in the game. On two occasions, a Rubin forehand missed clipping the tramline by mere inches. But, in the end, the American would have his moment in the winners’ circle, sealing the victory on his sixth opportunity when a Polmans approach shot found the net.

On his SIXTH championship point, @Noahrubin33 takes the title in a thrilling Tallahassee final. Edges Marc Polmans 62 36 64. #ATPChallenger titles on hard and clay in 2018 for the ?? pic.twitter.com/9M5aS62opX

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) April 28, 2018

“It was an interesting match,” Rubin told USTA broadcaster Mike Cation. “We were both nervous and wanted our first titles on clay. I’ll say that I had more on the line. A title goes a long way. It’s tough to beat winning a title, obviously. There are a lot of good players here and strong competition. There was a lot on the line today and he’s been playing well all week. I knew how to stay with it the whole match.

“He’s definitely a crafty player. I actually think I overanalysed his game a little too much. But in the first set, I made sure I simplified things and played my game. I didn’t give him many free points. I think the biggest difference for me was the movement on my forehand. I hit a lot of great angled winners. That was the difference in the end. 

“I was unusually calm for myself. I knew that I couldn’t spare any energy early on and I was protective of myself in that sense. I knew any grunting or screaming couldn’t happen at that point. But I felt pretty confident. Then I closed it out on my sixth match point. Again, I felt pretty confident. I was making him play some shots he didn’t want to. Giving up a 0/40 lead is tough, but it turned out ok.”

Polmans will hold his head high after another successful week. There are few players hotter than the World No. 175 at the moment. He has won a combined 31 matches already this year on the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF Futures circuit. This week’s Tallahassee final marked his second Challenger title match after capturing his maiden crown on home soil in Launceston, Australia, in February. 

For Rubin, the win gives him titles on both hard and clay this year, adding to his season-opening crown in Noumea. He has been on a tear since returning from a wrist injury that kept him on the sidelines for much of the 2017 season. Now 13-4 on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2018, he is projected to return to the Top 200 of the ATP Rankings.