Nuno Borges returns to Roland-Garros in 2026 and will open his Paris campaign this Sunday against Tomás Martín Etcheverry, the world No. 25.
Borges, Portugal’s number one and No. 50 in the ATP rankings, is 29 years old and arrives in Paris carrying the two facts that matter: he reached the third round at Roland-Garros in 2025 — an unprecedented result for him — and this season he defeated Etcheverry at the ATP 500 in Barcelona.
Speaking on media day to Bola Amarela, Borges said plainly: "Sinto-me bem. Sinto que estou a jogar muito bem." He added that his body has cooperated. "O meu corpo, felizmente, tem estado bom de saúde, o que me tem ajudado também a manter esta forma." Those two lines framed the tone of his preparation: confident and fit despite a recent lull in match play.
Rankings underline the test ahead. Etcheverry sits at No. 25; Borges is No. 50. Those numbers put pressure on Borges to prove he belongs consistently at the higher end of the draw, not just in flashes. Borges himself tied the results to opportunity: "Se continuar a manter o meu nível e jogar assim, as oportunidades hão-de aparecer."
Context sharpens why this matters today. Borges told reporters he had not played since Rome but had been working on court: he had played many points in training and does not feel underprepared. He reminded listeners that he reached his best ranking two years ago while playing less than he is now — a line meant to suggest that his current, heavier schedule should deliver better returns if he converts key moments.
That conversion is the hinge of the match. Borges set the goal plainly: "Agora é saber concretizar nos momentos decisivos dos jogos." He knows the scoreboard will be tight and the margins small—especially over five sets in Paris.
The tension in the pairing is immediate. Borges beat Etcheverry in Barcelona this season, but he expects a different reaction this time. "Vai ser um jogo duro. Os meus outros jogos com ele este ano também foram duros. À melhor de cinco sets vai ser mais ainda," he said. Borges also predicted added motivation from his opponent: "Acho que ele vai ter umas ganas extras por causa do desfecho do outro jogo. Eu sei que ele não gostou."
He assessed Etcheverry bluntly: "É um jogador que singra por ser muito regular e muito constante" and "É muito bom fisicamente, sólido dos dois lados, serve bem. É um jogador completo e os resultados dele mostram isso." Those are not compliments wrapped in diplomacy; they are a recognition that the matchup will require Borges to be at his most accurate and resilient.
Practical preparation was part boast and part reassurance. Borges admitted recent results have not been impressive but believes his competitive level is higher than before; he said he feels "cada vez mais preparado" to compete at the highest level and that he feels physically strong and competitive ahead of his Paris debut. He underlined the immediate game plan with a line that returned the focus to routine and execution: "Vou fazer a minha cena como normalmente faço e tentar conseguir uma vitória."
The immediate next event is clear: Borges and Etcheverry meet in the first round on Sunday, and the match will test whether Borges can translate fitness, confidence and a previous win into a deeper run at Roland-Garros, where he set a new standard for himself in 2025 by reaching the third round.
