By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday February 20, 2025
Portugal’s Jaime Faria was barely contained in the Prime 400 this time final yr. What a distinction a yr makes for the rising expertise, who’s now slated to make his Prime 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 stay rankings because of this, and can be a part of Nuno Borges (at present 37 within the stay 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 succeed in his first tour-level QF!@RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/4UzWN6QAc5
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2025
The Lisbon native didn’t personal an ATP stage victory till he defeated Pavel Kotov in Melbourne final month, however he did rack up 53 wins on the Challenger and Futures stage final yr. Faria performed seven totally different finals in 2024, and gained six of them, together with 4 on the Challenger stage.
He’s a powerhouse who really carried out higher on onerous courts than he did on clay final yr.
As he’s demonstrating in Rio, he is aware of his manner across the clay as properly. He cracked 35 winners in opposition to 49 winners in opposition to Munar, who managed simply 11 winners in opposition to 18 unforced errors.
“I’m so blissful,” he mentioned. “In these tournaments it’s simpler to search out motivation to return again stronger and provides every part that I’ve in my legs and in my head.
“I feel confidence is the phrase. I feel my stage is there, and it has been there the final yr. I’ve a lot confidence and so many wins – let’s maintain it that manner.”
Faria will face fellow fortunate loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli for a spot within the semifinals on Friday in Rio.
