After defeating the Czech Jakub Mensik in three sets, Portuguese tennis player, Nuno Borges, qualified for the semi-finals of the Auckland tournament in New Zealand.

Nuno Borges, who is ranked 36th in the ATP rankings, defeated Mensik, ranked 49th in the world, in a lengthy match that lasted 2 hours and 27 minutes. Borges won 6-2 and 7-6, including 7-4 in the tie-break, after losing the opening set 6-7 (4-7). It is the second time that the 27-year-old tennis player has qualified for the semi-finals of an ATP tournament.

In the semi-final, which will take place on Friday, 10 January around 2 am (Western European Time) the Portuguese tennis player will face the German player Zizou Bergs, ranked 66th in the world.

Nuno Borges has told Lusa news agency in a statement that “What made the difference today, besides a bit of luck and a lot of suffering, was the belief and the way that I remained positive throughout the match”.

As the Portuguese tennis player added, “I’ve been feeling good. I’m very happy to be starting the year with some victories. At this level, nothing is given to us and all the matches have been very difficult. This start of the year has been an example of that. So, I’m happy to have already had some victories, my body has held up well, and fortunately, my head has also been fine, which helps even more”.

According to today’s draw, Nuno Borges will play against Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the opening round of the Australian Open, the season’s first Grand Slam competition, which will happen on Sunday, 12 January.

The last time Nuno Borges participated in an ATP tournament semi-final was in Bastad, Sweden, last summer, winning the tournament after defeating Rafael Nadal.