Standing across the net from Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open and Daniil Medvedev at two majors last season, Nuno Borges was amidst his best runs at Grand Slam tournaments.
As a Top 40 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Borges has proved he belongs among the best. His third-round Melbourne showdown with Alcaraz and facing Medvedev at Flushing Meadows and Down Under in 2024 have provided even more of a measuring stick for the 28-year-old.
“I think exposing yourself to those kinds of players, they make you feel vulnerable sometimes in different areas,” Borges told ATPTour.com at this week’s Arizona Tennis Classic, an ATP Challenger 175 event. “They play such a different style of tennis, Carlos and Daniil. They both exposed some parts of my game that maybe other players throughout that tournament didn’t make me feel that.
“They both teach us different things, Daniil for his consistency and focus, and Carlos maybe more for his intensity and how powerless he makes you feel sometimes on court. It’s stuff that I always keep in mind when I’m trying to work in practice. That will give me a few more weapons to play against them.”
Borges celebrated one of the standout moments of his career last July, when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the Bastad final to claim his first tour-level title. The Portuguese player calls that run in Sweden “one of the happiest memories on Tour”. Another cherished memory comes from Phoenix, Arizona, where Borges is a two-time defending champion.
Having defeated Matteo Berrettini in last year’s final to extend his perfect tournament record to 10-0, Borges is aiming for a rare three-peat this week at the Phoenix Country Club.
When the former Mississippi State University standout triumphed in 2023, he was at No. 80 in the PIF ATP Rankings, which at the time was a career high. Last year Borges won as World No. 60. And thanks to his steady progress, he is now World No. 36 in Phoenix and the top seed.
“I have to perform well and nothing is taken for granted. I’m really happy to be here, a lot is at stake,” Borges said. “It is probably my happy place in America.”
Borges’ two Phoenix trophies are proudly displayed at his home in Maia. It is safe to say that Borges is representing his country well as the highest-ranked Portuguese player. And having that title means more to him than the win-loss column.
“It adds more responsibility, knowing the younger guys, not just tennis players but kids who are starting to play, look after me. I do take that as a responsibility to make myself an example,” Borges said. “It is a little more motivation for me when things aren’t going my way to still keep a good posture and try to find a way, it’s a little extra reason to give my best.
“It was a new feeling for me when I became number one. It’s something I had to get used to. Representing Portugal is always a big motivation for me. Especially Davis Cup week is always a week I feel like giving 110 per cent. There was always something more for me to give, even if I wasn’t feeling great, I would always go there and give it all.”
Borges will give his all this week in hopes of a third consecutive celebratory pool plunge in Phoenix.
This looks familiar 😉 #ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/ZvhVMN5P4T
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