Borges defends Phoenix Challenger crown: 'On cloud nine'

Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour

Portugal’s Nuno Borges successfully defended his Arizona Tennis Classic title Sunday when he defeated former World No. 6 Matteo Berrettini 7-5, 7-6(4) in the championship match.

The 27-year-old produced consistency and variety from the baseline to down the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, who was playing his first tournament following a six-month injury layoff. Borges won 78 per cent of his first-serve points in the final, closing the one-hour, 57-minute battle on his third match point.

When Borges sealed his second ATP Challenger Tour 175 title, he dropped his racquet and fell on the court in disbelief.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Borges said of his celebration. “I still can’t believe it. An amazing week. I started the week with not the greatest practises, I wasn’t feeling my best. Then I started getting confidence throughout the tournament with the matches and really just impressed myself with how I dealt with all the adversity. One night finishing past midnight.

“Just stayed really hungry, motivated and pushed myself. I stayed really positive all throughout and all the hard work I put in this week… Just surprised and happy I’m able to celebrate another title here. [I'm on] cloud nine.”

This looks familiar 😉 #ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/ZvhVMN5P4T

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 18, 2024

At World No. 61 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Borges has enjoyed a standout start to the season. The six-time ATP Challenger Tour champion reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and was a quarter-finalist at the ATP 250 event in Los Cabos.

A former Mississippi State University star, Borges has won his past 10 matches at the Challenger level, having also claimed a title in his home city Maia last December. He ousted three fellow Top 100 players in Arizona.

In other ATP Challenger Tour action Sunday, Juan Pablo Varillas survived a dramatic week in Santiago, Chile to also capture his sixth title at that level. The 28-year-old Peruvian, who was seeded second, saved three match points in the first round against Paul Jubb and another trio in the quarter-finals versus Francesco Passaro.

Varillas, who entered the Circuito Dove Men+Care Challenger Santiago with a 1-8 match record across all levels in 2024, cruised past Argentine Facundo Bagnis 6-3, 6-2 in the title match.

^{Juan Pablo Varillas in action at the Santiago Challenger. Credit: Circuito Dove Men+Care Challenger Santiago}

Germany’s Henri Squire earned his maiden title at the Challenger Hamburg, where he overcame Frenchman Clement Chidekh 6-4, 6-2 in the final. Following his triumph, the 23-year-old is up to a career-high No. 240 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

“It’s very special,” Squire said. “I’ll remember it for the rest of my life, my first Challenger title. Just hope to continue a good stretch and take it into the next weeks.”

^{Henri Squire celebrates winning the Challenger Hamburg. Credit: Witters}

Chinese Taipei’s Chun-Hsin Tseng returned to the winners’ circle for the first time since April 2022 by claiming the Kiskut Open in Szekesfehevar, Hungary. The 22-year-old advanced through qualifying and was leading Titouan Droguet 4-1 in the final when the Frenchman retired due to a shoulder injury.

“For me, it’s a good victory because in the past two years I didn’t have great results,” said Tseng, a four-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist. “It’s very good for me to build up the confidence and hopefully we keep up this winning streak.

^{Chun-Hsin Tseng wins the indoor clay Challenger 75 event in Szekesfehevar, Hungary. Credit: HunTennis/Zsanna Csengeri}

Congratulations to this week's doubles champions 🏆#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/u8Ta2PvY6n

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 18, 2024