Nuno Borges, 27, rose nine spots in the ATP rankings after defeating Rafael Nadal, the former world number one from Spain, in the Swedish clay-court event final on Sunday 21 July. In February, Borges' best standing was 46th.

In his maiden tour final, the Portuguese tennis player defeated the 38-year-old Spanish veteran, the winner of 22 Grand Slam championships, 6-3, 6-2, to claim his first victory on the main circuit.

Reiterating his position as the top player in Portugal, Nuno Borges became the second player from that country to win an ATP event, following João Sousa, who achieved this feat in Kuala Lumpur in 2013, Valencia in 2015, the Estoril Open in 2018, and Pune in 2022.

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A passionate Irish journalist with a love for cycling, politics and of course Portugal especially their sausage rolls.

Rory Mc Ginn