By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday February 20, 2025
Portugal’s Jaime Faria was barely contained in the High 400 this time final yr. What a distinction a yr makes for the rising expertise, who’s now slated to make his High 100 debut after reaching his first profession ATP quarterfinal on Thursday in Rio.
Faria, who took a set off of Novak Djokovic within the second spherical at this yr’s Australian Open, defeated Spain’s Jaume Munar, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
He’s as much as No.87 within the dwell rankings consequently, and can be a part of Nuno Borges (at the moment 37 within the dwell rankings) because the second man inside the highest 100 from Portugal on Monday.
A blistering return to seal it 🔥Jaime Faria will get the most important win of his younger profession, knocking out Munar to achieve his first tour-level QF!@RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/4UzWN6QAc5
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2025
The Lisbon native didn’t personal an ATP degree victory till he defeated Pavel Kotov in Melbourne final month, however he did rack up 53 wins on the Challenger and Futures degree final yr. Faria performed seven completely different finals in 2024, and gained six of them, together with 4 on the Challenger degree.
He’s a powerhouse who truly carried out higher on onerous courts than he did on clay final yr.
As he’s demonstrating in Rio, he is aware of his approach across the clay as nicely. He cracked 35 winners towards 49 winners towards Munar, who managed simply 11 winners towards 18 unforced errors.
“I’m so pleased,” he mentioned. “In these tournaments it’s simpler to search out motivation to come back again stronger and provides every part that I’ve in my legs and in my head.
“I believe confidence is the phrase. I believe my degree is there, and it has been there the final yr. I’ve a lot confidence and so many wins – let’s hold it that approach.”
Faria will face fellow fortunate loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli for a spot within the semifinals on Friday in Rio.
