First-Time Winner Highlight: Nuno Borges | ATP Tour

First-Time Winner Highlight: Nuno Borges

Bastad champion turns into simply the second Portuguese man to win an ATP Tour singles title

July 23, 2024

Nuno Borges earned his debut ATP tour title with victory over Rafael Nadal within the last of the Nordea Open.

The 27-year-old Portuguese participant spoke to ATPTour.com in regards to the path to his maiden title, his pre-match routines, and his passions off the court docket.

What does it imply to win your first ATP Tour title? Not solely did you win the title, however you beat an all-time nice in Rafa. How particular is that for you?To be trustworthy, I don’t suppose I’ve processed it but. It feels superb, it’s like I used to be saying, it’s if you least anticipate it generally – tennis is loopy. I got here right here this week with out profitable a match for a couple of weeks, coming from the grass the place it was a difficult week, and impulsively, I come out taking part in nice and profitable the entire thing, and never simply profitable the title, however beating Rafa within the last on clay, a spot the place he has received earlier than. Simply beating the King of the Clay means loads to me, it feels surreal to me, and it already feels prefer it wasn’t yesterday, it feels so way back and I’m nonetheless in disbelief.

This can be a milestone second in your profession. How will you have a good time this victory?Yeah, for positive a milestone. It was one thing that I wished to do, I used to be already aiming for my first semis and as soon as I did that then my first last after which profitable the title for positive. It was one thing that I dreamed about for a very long time, and I didn’t suppose that it could occur this week however once more it’s if you least anticipate it and taking one match at a time can actually do these items for you. I celebrated a little bit bit with the opposite gamers final night time, with the workers, they supplied us with an incredible dinner, and [we went on] an evening out simply to get pleasure from it. I used to be capable of have my girlfriend out on the town, she flew in only for that in order that was superior too. I want I had all my family and friends, however it wasn’t doable this time. I’ll return dwelling right now, and I don’t have actually an excessive amount of time to waste. I’m going straight to Paris after, preparing for the Olympics, not an excessive amount of time to have a good time, however tennis is like this.

Might you’re taking a second to acknowledge a number of the key figures in your life and profession who’ve helped you to achieve this milestone?Yeah, I’ve now acknowledged some folks beginning with Australia this 12 months and even earlier than that simply being on the Davis Cup crew. I feel all of people who make me look again and take into consideration all of the coaches that helped me all through my profession and my course of even earlier than I used to be knowledgeable and all the chums that had been a part of my entire journey. Clearly, my sponsors, my household, everyone on my crew that with out them it wouldn’t be doable. I do know they’re celebrating with me proper now.

How would you describe your self as a participant, and the way would you describe your self off the court docket?I’d describe myself as aggressive and emotional, however on the identical time sort of timid off court docket. I feel tennis and simply competing brings a facet of me that you just don’t see off the court docket. I don’t wish to carry consideration or costume fancy, I maintain issues easy. I don’t wish to exit and celebration, I like to remain in with pals and chill and simply chat about life. It’s one thing that I actually don’t have an excessive amount of time to take action I actually respect these moments possibly greater than another folks. I shock myself with how I act generally on court docket and the way I carry that fierceness and competitiveness that I don’t actually present an excessive amount of off court docket.

Do you have got any particular pre-match routines that aid you put together for giant matches like right now’s last? Maybe a particular track to take heed to when you heat up that helps you get into the zone?Particularly, for this week my pre-match routines and post-match routines can be to soak my ft within the seawater on the seaside. It’s not one thing I get to do each week however each time I’d have the time, I’d put my ft within the sand and luxuriate in a little bit little bit of the calmness of the ocean and a little bit of calm earlier than the storm, and after the match the identical factor. It might be earlier than warmup and earlier than any routines to get me going for the match, and I’d go after recovering within the health club or with the physio and luxuriate in my time. In addition to that, I don’t actually do something particular, simply get the physique going – no particular songs, I don’t even take heed to songs earlier than the match. That’s one thing I might really do extra typically I feel that might be cool.  However I attempt to maintain it easy, even earlier than the large matches I attempt to not change my routine and simply maintain all of it the identical.

You received the large Challenger 175 occasion in Phoenix back-to-back and beat Berrettini within the last this 12 months. How did these title runs assist put together you in your first ATP Tour last?I feel taking part in these massive matches in opposition to Berrettini for instance, and never simply these, however different massive matches I’ve performed, [it’s about] simply conserving constructing on that confidence and realizing I can compete in opposition to the very best on the large phases as nicely, and realizing that once I’m taking part in my greatest, I’m a harmful participant for them too. I feel it’s enjoyable, trying to all that, taking part in these massive guys on the highest degree on the large phases is de facto cool. All of the success that comes with it’s nice and it actually makes you look again and respect all of the efforts – the highs and lows. Particularly going to an ATP last, it makes you look again loads.

What do you think about to be your largest ardour outdoors of tennis and may you inform us a little bit bit about that curiosity?I don’t know if it’s my largest ardour, however I’d like to do handcrafts. I assume it’s a little bit signal possibly, my mum taught me and grew up doing loads and I don’t thoughts getting my fingers soiled. Proper now, I do extra puzzles and Legos, which you don’t really want to get your fingers soiled. I like baking truffles, I did it loads over Covid once I had the time to do it and the time to eat them.