Home » Nuno Borges remarked, “I felt the value of Carlos Alcaraz when he was 16.”

The physical issues that caused Carlos Alcaraz to miss the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 allowed him to return to the court in Barcelona. Thus, Nuno Borges will be the Spaniard’s first clay-court opponent this season. The second-ranked player in the world, who had a bye in the opening round, is getting ready to make his Conde de God debut at the 70th anniversary of the competition, which he won last year and must now confirm.

The Spaniard will undoubtedly be the favorite in the match that determines who advances to the round of 32, but the Portuguese player, ranked 79 in the world, is in excellent shape and is aware of the battle that awaits him against the man from Murcia.

“I’ve seen him improve over the years because he’s played several times in Portugal, and it’s quite exciting to play against him,” said Borges. “He’s at the top for a reason. I’m sure he’ll give it his all, so I’ll need to be at my best to stand a chance, and I’ll try to take it all in.

Right now, I’m feeling terrific on clay and playing amazing tennis, so I want to keep building on these positive feelings.

Nuno Borges remarked, “I felt the value of Carlos Alcaraz when he was 16.”

Alcaraz was barely 16 years old at the time of their previous match in 2019, but his immense potential was already visible: “I met him in Martos, in 2019.”

He was 16 years old, and despite his youth, he had an excellent physique. He hit the ball excellently while we were playing. You might probably already guess who he is at this point. If the 19-year-old wins his opponent’s contest, he might face Roberto Bautista Agut in an all-Spanish derby in Spain’s third round.

Another significant roadblock could appear in the fourth round as well as the eighth final: Frances Tiafoe, an American who won Houston but did not compete in the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000.

A matchup in the semifinals that would bring to mind Casper Ruud or the Grand Slam final matchup at Flushing Meadows.