Borges Cross Country Dash To Miami Qualifying | ATP Tour

Nuno Borges is a person in a rush. However success can put a spring in your step when you’ll want to hustle.

Inside 24 hours, the Portuguese World No. 68 went from profitable the ATP 175 Challenger title in Phoenix, Arizona in America’s south-west to profitable a first-round qualifying match on the Miami Open presented by Itau, the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in south-east Florida.

“Once I received that second match on Saturday I knew it might be sophisticated,” Borges mentioned. “There weren’t many choices and the direct flights have been absolutely booked and I knew I needed to play Monday. Fortunately I obtained a late begin.”

By the point Borges defeated Alexander Shevchenko in Sunday’s three-set last of the Arizona Tennis Classic, it was already 7pm in Miami. He was due on court docket to play Steve Johnson at 4.30pm Monday.

“We went again to the lodge, obtained some meals, then headed to the airport for a flight at 11.20pm (Pacific time, 2.30am Miami time). Borges landed in Atlanta at 5.30am ET for a 7.10am connection. After which there was a hiccup.

“We obtained on the aircraft and we had a 30-minute wait after which we have been informed we would want to vary planes attributable to a technical concern. For a second I had a thought that I wouldn’t make it to right this moment’s match,” he mentioned.

Borges landed in Miami round 11am, headed to the lodge for a fast nap after which took the 2pm shuttle to the positioning.

“I didn’t correctly heat as much as be sincere. Simply obtained a really feel for the court docket with a 20-30 minute hit at 3,” he mentioned. “Headed to physio, had a fast heat up and by some means performed an incredible match. I felt higher than I anticipated, to be sincere. I’ve obtained lots of confidence from the matches I performed final week and earlier than that.

“I most likely obtained about 4 ½ hours complete sleep. Possibly two hours on the primary flight, 90 minutes on the second flight after which an hour’s nap on the lodge.”

Borges is on a 10-match profitable streak on the Challenger degree, having additionally received the title in Monterrey, Mexico. And he’s sitting at a career-high within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. The highest seed in Miami qualifying on Tuesday performs Croatian Borna Gojo for a spot in the principle draw.