The Australian Open remains a roller coaster into the Round of 32. It is on Porter's Nuno Borges, ranked ATP 33, going up against a mighty opponent in world number 3 Carlos Alcaraz, on Friday. This promises to be another stern test of Borges' resilience considering the contrasting playing style and dominance that Alcaraz has commanded so far. Will the Portuguese star pull off the upset against the 2022 US Open champion, or will Alcaraz keep going into his dream for another Grand Slam title? Let's go through stats, form, and predictions in this mouth-watering clash.
Claim Welcome BonusNuno Borges
Nuno Borges has been silently making his way into the ATP circuit, working his way up the rankings with a very consistent all-court game. In his R64 performance against Jordan Thompson, he was clinical as he won 3-0 (6-3, 6-2, 6-4). His stats are a highlight of his solid serving:
* 6 aces, 0 double faults, and an incredible 79% first-serve success rate underlined his reliability on serve.
* His ability to save all break points (100%) and convert four of his own shows mental fortitude in key moments.
Borges will try to dominate the rallies with controlled aggression and build on his opponent's errors. However, he may struggle with a lack of firepower against better opposition and could find himself quite vulnerable against Alcaraz's non-stop baseline game. He has to keep serving at a high level to have a chance and try to disrupt Alcaraz with variation.
Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz came into the Australian Open as one of the favorites for the tournament, and his form in the R64 only cemented those claims. The Spaniard steamrolled Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1, 6-4, marrying breathtaking shot-making with unflappable focus. Encores of his performance:
*14 aces, even if offset by 3 double faults, showcase his aggressive serve.
* His 44% first-serve return points won and 6 break points converted underlined his excellence in taking control of rallies early.
The explosive movement, the ability to generate angles, and fearless net play from Alcaraz make him a nightmare for opponents. However, his first-serve percentage at 60% is leeway for improvement that could present some opportunities to Borges if the Spaniard struggles for consistency.
Expert Betting Tips
Carlos Alcaraz -7.5 Games Handicap @ 1.615 Odds on 1xbet:
Alcaraz is an aggressive baseliner, and the way he can dictate points makes a comfortable win likely. He should win by a margin, covering the spread against Borges.
Over 9.5 Games in the First Set @ 2.06 Odds on Betway:
The strong serve of Borges can make the first set competitive before Alcaraz takes full control. There will be a longer opening set before the quality of Alcaraz comes through.
Total Match Aces Over 15 @ 1.60 Odds on Be365:
Both players make much of their success with the serve to build points, and with Borges' six aces in the averages and Alcaraz' 14 in the prior round, this is really good value.
Other predictions
