By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday February 20, 2025
Portugal’s Jaime Faria was barely contained in the High 400 this time final 12 months. What a distinction a 12 months makes for the rising expertise, who’s now slated to make his High 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 12 months’s Australian Open, defeated Spain’s Jaume Munar, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
He’s as much as No.87 within the dwell rankings in consequence, and can be a part of Nuno Borges (at the moment 37 within the dwell rankings) because the second man inside the highest 100 from Portugal on Monday.
A blistering return to seal it 🔥Jaime Faria will get the largest win of his younger profession, knocking out Munar to achieve his first tour-level QF!@RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/4UzWN6QAc5
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2025
The Lisbon native didn’t personal an ATP degree victory till he defeated Pavel Kotov in Melbourne final month, however he did rack up 53 wins on the Challenger and Futures degree final 12 months. Faria performed seven totally different finals in 2024, and gained six of them, together with 4 on the Challenger degree.
He’s a powerhouse who truly carried out higher on onerous courts than he did on clay final 12 months.
As he’s demonstrating in Rio, he is aware of his approach across the clay as nicely. 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 stated. “In these tournaments it’s simpler to seek out motivation to return again stronger and provides every little thing that I’ve in my legs and in my head.
“I feel confidence is the phrase. I feel my degree is there, and it has been there the final 12 months. I’ve a lot confidence and so many wins – let’s preserve it that approach.”
Faria will face fellow fortunate loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli for a spot within the semifinals on Friday in Rio.
