Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Doha match.
Rublev is gradually regaining his form after a disappointing start to the season and remains solid in the top 10. Every victory is crucial for the Russian, and he has a strong track record in Doha. Meanwhile, Borges has shown some decent results this year, but his level drops significantly against elite opponents.
Andrey Rublev
Rublev is improving after a rough start to the season. He reached the semi-finals in Montpellier and the quarter-finals in Rotterdam. Historically, he performs well in Doha, having reached at least the quarter-finals every year except once. In his first match of this tournament, Rublev secured a dominant victory over Alexander Bublik (6:3, 6:4), winning 77% of points on his first serve. Over the past year, Rublev has won 13 of 16 matches at the round of 16 stage (82%), and this season, 8 out of 10 of his wins have come in straight sets.
Nuno Borges
The Portuguese player won two titles in 2024, but he struggles against top-tier opposition on hard courts. Earlier this year, he reached the semi-finals in Adelaide but collapsed in the Davis Cup, losing to Valentin Vacherot (No. 201). His performance in Marseille was also poor, exiting in the second round. The biggest concern is Borges’ dreadful record against top-10 players—he has lost all 11 encounters, failing to win a set in 9 of them.
Andrey Rublev vs Nuno Borges Prediction
Rublev already defeated Borges last season (6:3, 6:2) and is currently in far better form. He has a consistent record in Doha, while Borges struggles against elite players. Given the Russian’s dominance in this matchup, we back him to win with a small handicap.
