“Nuno Borges surprises with a low serve and advances in Barcelona.”

Nuno Borges stars in a controversial yet brilliant moment by closing the match with an underhand serve at the Barcelona tournament! The Portuguese tennis player, currently ranked 52nd in the ATP rankings, surprised everyone by defeating Argentine Tomas Martín Etcheverry, the world number 29 and leader in clay court victories this season, in an intense duel that lasted over two hours.

Last Wednesday, Borges won with scores of 6-3 and 7-6 (7-4), securing his place in the quarter-finals in a performance marked by physical resilience and tactical cleverness. The most controversial moment arose during the decisive point of the match when the Portuguese player closed the game with an underhand serve—a unconventional move that left his opponent bewildered and caused murmurs among the crowd, who did not hesitate to boo Borges’ strategy.

This underhand serve, which resulted in an unexpected “ace,” is a rare and risky shot, but in this case, it proved to be a stroke of genius, securing Borges his second consecutive victory against Etcheverry and a spot among the eight best players in the Catalan tournament.

Now, Nuno Borges is preparing to face a formidable opponent in the quarter-finals: either Australian Alex de Minaur, ranked seventh in the world, or Serbian Hamad Medjedovic, ranked 88th. This will be a crucial opportunity for Borges, who is on the verge of returning to the top 50 of the ATP rankings, solidifying his best form since reaching the third round at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season.

After three disappointments in recent tournaments, this is the first time Borges has advanced to the third round in a top event since that occasion, demonstrating that his evolution on the circuit is clear and that he is prepared to compete against the best in the world.

Nuno Borges, the great hope of Portuguese tennis, made it clear in Barcelona that he is not afraid to innovate and take risks to achieve glory. The gamble on the underhand serve may have divided opinions, but the result speaks for itself: a historic victory and a giant step towards the top of world tennis. Stay tuned, because this young talent promises many more unforgettable moments in the coming weeks!

This article first appeared on Apito Final.