Nuno Borges seeks to stun Daniil Medvedev in Monday's US Open fourth-round match.
The Russian is the only previous champion in New York left in the draw, and he seeks a possible quarter-final berth at the expense of his Portuguese opponent.
Match preview
© Imago
Borges had won just once at two previous appearances at the US Open, but the 27-year-old has claimed three victories to reach a first-ever round-four match at Flushing Meadows.
The last of the World No. 34's matches in Queens was a five-set thriller to eliminate Jakub Mensik 6-7(5), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-0.
Having twice showcased his battling qualities to fight back from a set down and notch a tight fourth-set tie-break, the Portuguese player will require those aspects of his game against the 2021 champion.
Borges has already matched his best run at a Grand Slam with his ongoing showing, reaching the fourth round Down Under in Australia in January before losing to Monday's opponent, but he seeks one more victory to outdo his ceiling to notch his first win over a top-10 opponent.
© Imago
Medvedev will not be a willing opponent as he seeks to advance to another quarter-final at Flushing Meadows, aiming to eliminate the Portuguese player.
With Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz eliminated, Medvedev is the one in the men's draw to have tasted success at the last major of the year, and the finalist in 2019 and 2023 aims for a second title.
While several observers are backing Jannik Sinner to clinch a second Slam and Alexander Zverev — placed on the other side of the draw — to be in the conversation, the sport's ultimate disruptor could have a thing or two to say about those predictions.
A quarter-final blockbuster with Sinner could ensue in the next round, although that is contingent on both players winning their fourth-round matches, which is not guaranteed at this shock-laden US Open.
Only in 2022 — when the defending champion was defeated by Nick Kyrgios — has Medvedev failed to progress beyond the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
With three finals and one semi-final appearance in the past five years, he is confident in his ability to improve that record to five in six over the next couple of rounds.
Tournament so far
Nuno Borges:
First round: vs. Federico Coria 6-2 6-4 6-1
Second round: vs. Athanasios Kokkinakis 6-4 7-5 7-5
Third round: vs. Jakub Mensik 6-7[5] 6-1 3-6 7-6(6) 6-0
Daniil Medvedev:
First round: vs. Dusan Lajovic 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-1
Second round: vs. Fabian Marozsan 6-3 6-2 7-6(5)
Third round: vs. Flavio Cobolli 6-3 6-4 6-3
Head To Head
Australian Open (2024) - Fourth round: Medvedev 6-3 7-6(4) 5-7 6-1
Halle (2024) - Round of 32: Medvedev 7-6(4) 6-4
Both meetings between Borges and Medvedev have been held this year, with the Russian clinching their Australian Open meeting in two sets before triumphing again in Halle.
Although the Portuguese player has notched one title this year to the one-time Slam champion's none, the 28-year-old's 35-13 record in 2024 betters the underdog's 21-21 win-loss stat.
We say: Medvedev to win in four sets
Although Medvedev has beaten Borges in both match-ups, only one of their six sets has been by a wide margin, pointing to another close encounter on Monday.
Regardless, the Russian is backed to avoid a shock loss and advance to another last-eight match at Flushing Meadows.
