With Roger Federer’s first title of the season at this year’s Estoril Open, “the tennis season has finally begun,” says a hitting partner of mine. Even though this clay win was handed to him after Nikolay Davydenko retired with a leg injury, I’m sure this will feed his confidence as he warms up for Roland Garros.

Roger was up a set before Kolya pulled out at 7-6 (5), 1-2.

The Estoril Open trophy is still one of the best on the tour.

Maria Kirilenko gets shortchanged with a bland crystal cup after she bags her third career title at the Estoril women’s event. The gorgeous Russian, clad in adidas by Stella McCartney, took out the Czech Republic’s Iveta Benesova 6-4, 6-2.

Serena Williams caps her great week at the Family Circle Cup (she blew Masha out of the water in the third set of their quarterfinal match) with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Vera Zvonareva,

This week’s Kevin Anderson (or is it Kei Nishikori?), the barceloneo Marcel Granollers-Pujol, downed James Blake 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston.

Finally, David Ferrer wins the Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana. He outlasted two-time defending champion Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 6-2, 7-6.

(photos by Getty Images; Ferrer photo via OTCV)