Quem é Nuno Borges? O fenómeno português do ténis que está a conquistar o mundo (Who Is Nuno Borges? The Portuguese Tennis Phenomenon Taking the World by Storm)

Portuguese tennis player Nuno Borges has made headlines at the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters after top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas withdrew just hours before their anticipated second-round clash, handing the world No. 48 a surprise walk-over into the last 32. HIGHLIGHTS • Borges advances automatically to Round 3 after Tsitsipas cites a lingering back injury. • The 27-year-old from Maia, Portugal is projected to break into the ATP Top 40 for the first time. • Borges will face Australia’s Alex de Minaur next; head-to-head stands at 0-2. • Win in Shanghai would mark Borges’s third Top-20 victory of the season. ROAD TO SHANGHAI After capturing his maiden ATP 500 title in Washington this summer and reaching the fourth round of the US Open, Borges arrived in China riding a career-best 31-18 season record. He opened his Shanghai campaign with an efficient 6-4, 6-3 win over Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki, striking 9 aces and winning 83 % of first-serve points. RANKING OUTLOOK By reaching the Round of 32, Borges adds at least 90 ranking points, lifting him from No. 48 to a live ranking of No. 41. A victory against de Minaur could propel him to No. 37, surpassing compatriot João Sousa’s Portuguese record of No. 40 set in 2016. KEY STATS Aces per match: 7.8 (2025 season) Break-point conversion: 44 % Hard-court win rate: 68 % Return games won vs Top-50 opponents: 28 % NEXT MATCH PREVIEW Opponent: Alex de Minaur (AUS) – World No. 13 Court: Stadium 2, Thursday not before 4 p.m. local Streaming: Tennis TV worldwide; ESPN+ in the U.S. Betting odds*: de Minaur 1.45, Borges 2.80 (*odds subject to change) WHAT’S AT STAKE A Round-of-16 berth would be Borges’s deepest run at a Masters 1000 and secure his status as one of 2025’s breakout players. It would also strengthen his bid to qualify for the season-ending Next Gen Masters in Jeddah. ABOUT NUNO BORGES • Born: February 19, 1997 – Maia, Portugal • College: Mississippi State University (All-American) • Turned pro: 2019 • Play style: Right-handed, two-handed backhand, aggressive baseliner • Career prize money: $2.8 million UPCOMING SCHEDULE After Shanghai, Borges is slated for the ATP 250 in Antwerp followed by Basel and Paris-Bercy, where additional points could cement his historic Top-30 push. SEO KEYWORDS: Nuno Borges, Portuguese tennis star, Shanghai Masters 2025, Tsitsipas withdrawal, Borges ranking, Borges vs de Minaur, live stream, ATP tennis news.