Unheralded Portuguese Nuno Borges has pulled off the most important win of his profession by knocking thirteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov out of the Australian Open in a third-round boilover.
The 26-year-old arrived at Melbourne Park having by no means made it previous the second spherical of a significant.
However the world No.69’s 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2 7-6 (8-6) upset of the Bulgarian on Saturday on Kia Enviornment strikes him by means of to the final 16.
Nuno Borges.Credit score: AP
Borges turns into the primary Portuguese man to progress to the fourth spherical of an Australian Open and simply the second participant from his nation to achieve the second week of a grand slam.
“I’m nonetheless processing. I nonetheless can’t consider it,” mentioned Borges, who spent years enjoying school tennis as a result of he wasn’t mentally prepared to show skilled.
“My response on the finish was very sincere, I wasn’t able to win this match when it began.
“It’s huge for Portugal. I’m proud to be Portuguese and be right here competing in one of many largest tournaments on the earth.
“I hope I confirmed the youthful children it’s potential, with somewhat little bit of luck, working onerous it’s potential to attain simply dwelling within the second.”
It was his second straight defeat of a seeded opponent after beating world No.24 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina within the second spherical.
Borges subsequent faces third seed Daniil Medvedev because the resurgent Russian seeks to avenge his brutal loss within the 2022 Australian Open closing to Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev admitted after his 6-3 6-4 6-3 win over Felix Auger Aliassime that he knew little about his fourth-round opponent.
“I noticed the primary set in the present day, he (Borges) was enjoying properly,” the Russian mentioned.
“I didn’t know him earlier than, however he was enjoying properly, and to beat Grigor, who was on fireplace these days, is a giant achievement.”
Win or lose in opposition to Medvedev, Borges is assured to enter the world’s prime 50 gamers for the primary time on the finish of the Open.
“I haven’t had actually too many probabilities to compete in opposition to a lot of the prime 10 or prime 20 guys,” he mentioned.
“I’m anticipating a extremely robust match. I’m simply going to get pleasure from (this win first).”
AAP
