Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Roland Garros match.
Nuno Borges was one of the early surprises at Roland Garros, producing a major upset by eliminating Casper Ruud, a two-time finalist at the tournament. Building on that landmark win, the Portuguese player has a realistic opportunity to progress further in the draw. However, he enters his second-round encounter against Alexei Popyrin as the underdog, facing an opponent known for a powerful serve and strong physical presence.
Nuno Borges
On clay this season, Nuno Borges has secured seven victories from twelve matches. However, he has delivered an impressive level of play in Paris: in the opening round, he came through a five-set battle against Kyrian Jacquet, and in the second round, he stunned Casper Ruud with a 2:6, 6:4, 6:1, 6:0 win. In that match, he landed 76 per cent of his first serves and did not commit a single double fault.
Alexei Popyrin
On the other side, Alexei Popyrin has advanced past two solid opponents at Roland Garros — Yoshihito Nishioka (ATP No. 77), who retired mid-match, and Alejandro Tabilo (ATP No. 61). In Paris, Alexei Popyrin has been highly effective behind his first serve, winning 79 per cent of those points, averaging nine aces per match, and racking up eight victories in thirteen clay-court matches this season, including wins over three top-25 players: Ben Shelton, Francis Tiafoe, and Casper Ruud.
Nuno Borges vs Alexei Popyrin Prediction
Both sportsmen come into this match with nearly identical statistics for the season. Even their head-to-head record is level at 1-1. Each of their previous meetings ended in a closely contested three-set battle, and a similarly competitive match is expected here.
