The buzz around Flushing Meadows is building, and Portuguese tennis talent Nuno Borges finds himself right in the thick of it. He’s preparing for a challenging second-round match at the US Open against American favorite Tommy Paul. Borges spoke on Wednesday, sharing his thoughts with the Lusa agency, acknowledging the uphill battle ahead.
“He’s the favorite, I’ll try to give my best,” Borges said, looking ahead to his clash with Paul. The match is set for Arthur Ashe Stadium, a big stage. Borges isn’t feeling extra pressure. Instead, he plans to simply “enjoy the game.”
This relaxed approach comes after a solid first-round win. On Tuesday night, Borges, Portugal’s top player and ranked 41st globally, beat American Brandon Holt. The 27-year-old Holt, ranked 111th, fell in straight sets: 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Borges described his performance as “a very good game.” He admitted his sensations weren’t perfect, but he found ways to win. “I found solutions during the game and liked how I handled it,” he explained.
Now, Borges faces a much tougher test in Tommy Paul, who holds the world number 14 spot. Borges aims to “fight as hard as possible” against a top 15 player. He knows Paul has a lot on the line, especially playing on home soil. Paul “certainly wants to go far,” Borges noted. The goal for Borges is to “put on a good show and, who knows, aim to win.” This will be their first match on the tour. It’s scheduled for early Friday morning.
Borges, originally from Maia, described Paul as “one of the most complete players on the tour.” He added that Paul is “quite consistent and can win on all surfaces, even on clay.” Borges believes Paul “is in good form.” To counter this, Borges plans to “endure from start to finish and be more consistent, using my weapons to the maximum.”
The crowd will likely be cheering loudly for Paul. But Borges sees this as a good thing. He plans to use “that atmosphere as extra motivation.” This isn’t Borges’s first run at the US Open; a year ago, he made it to the Round of 16.
This 139th edition of the US Open continues until September 8th, wrapping up the Grand Slam season in New York’s Flushing Meadows.
