Borges plots Medvedev upset in Halle: 'No limitations'

Nuno Borges is out to notch a grass-court milestone on Day 1 at the Terra Wortmann Open.

The No. 48 in the PIF ATP Rankings has arrived at the ATP 500 seeking his maiden tour-level match win on the surface. He could have been disheartened when he promptly drew World No. 5 and former Halle finalist Daniil Medvedev in the opening round, but Borges has plenty of reason to believe he can spring an upset on Monday afternoon at OWL Arena.

“I think it is everybody's least-played surface, so I guess everybody's a little bit on the same foot with it,” Borges told ATPTour.com on Sunday in Halle when asked about how top players adapt to the grass. “Even though [Medvedev] has been on the Tour for more years and played at the highest level for longer. I'll use everything I can, and if that's a good reason to hang on to any hope I'll use it.”

Borges has claimed a personal-best 13 tour-level wins this season, three of which came at January’s Australian Open. In the fourth round, the Portuguese put on an impressive display in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Medvedev, who is a two-time finalist at the Melbourne major and who ultimately overcame Borges in four sets on Rod Laver Arena.

“It was amazing,” reflected Borges, who had upset then-World No. 13 Grigor Dimitrov in the second round in Australia. “Playing on the centre court at a Slam is incredible and I believe it was the only match I played on a centre court. It was my first time on such a big court and against such a big player with a history of being so good on hard courts and who made the final, not only this year, but [in 2022 too].

“It was nice to play such a big match, just because I knew the pressure wasn't on my side and I was already on such a high from everything that was going on in the tournament. So I think I really was able to play my best and I believe since then I've improved a little bit. Not that the result will be different [here in Halle], but again just focusing on improving my game."

So will Borges take lessons from his Melbourne defeat to Medvedev onto the Halle grass? The 27-year-old, who has only previously contested three tour-level matches on grass, is keen not to get too hung up on the past as he chases the biggest win of his career by PIF ATP Ranking.

“It's a totally different surface, different game,” said Borges. “I'm expecting a different match overall, but at the same time, I feel comfortable here. It'll be my first match this year on grass, but I do feel good here, and I enjoy it, so I put no limitations on the result. I will go for it.”

The Terra Wortmann Open, which takes place in leafy green countryside on the outskirts of the small German town of Halle-Westfalen, offers players the chance to stay in an on-site hotel right next to the main stadium. Event debutant Borges has settled in quickly to his new surroundings, and hopes that will help him find his best level in his opening match against Medvedev.

“It's amazing. I think for us players, it is great,” said Borges. “We’ve got the gym right there, the hotel right there. Literally walk off and you got the courts. It is really nice, and then being grass, it just looks a little more beautiful than any other tournament, I'd say.

“It is a special time of the year, so I'm enjoying it. I'm trying to live the dream a little bit. It's a big tournament, playing against a Top 10 opponent right away. I’m just really going to try to do my best and enjoy it as much as I can.”